Senior Times Oct/ Nov 2018

Issue 96 November - December 2018

NOW E3.00/£2.75

Times

The magazine for people who don’t act their age

Stars and sparkles

The growing popularity of celebrity winemakers

Mary’s Musings

Mary considers women in politics, Christmas and the Transition Year

Mother Courage

Guess the year

Profile of Majella O’Donnell

Another teaser from Jerry Perkins

ISSN 1649−2056

Neven treats

Recipes from Neven Maguire’s new book

12

A window on winter wildlife

A guide from BirdWatch Ireland

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November/December 2018

18

Contents

74

104

News:

2

Northern Notes:

70

Back To Our Past: A preview of the genealogy and family/social history event at the RDS, Dublin

8

Wine world: The popularity of celebrity winemakers

74

Mother courage: Aubrey Malone on the remarkable Majella O’Donnell

18

Five bracing walks for winter: Conor O’Hagan nominates five walks around the country to boost your intake of vitamin D

77

‘Filming is just a tool for me’: Maretta Dillon talks to Irish wildlife cameraman Colin Stafford-Johnson

21

A window on winter wildlife: Darren Ellis of BirdWatch Ireland is your guide

84

Guess the year: Another teaser from Jerry Perkins

26

Staying power: Profile of racehorse trainer Kevin Prendergast as he moves into his mid-80s

88

Four recipes from Neven Maguire’s new book:

28

Cosmetics and grooming:

92

Dacia’s all-new Duster cleans up its act: Breda Corrigan on the second generation model from the Renault-owned marque

32

Whats on in the arts:

100

Travellers check: Travel offers at home and abroad

101

Western Way: Stargazing in North West Mayo

104

Short story:

110

Golf:

116

Meeting place:

123

Crossword:

126

Crafts:

128

Walking the talk of the ‘forever young’ mindset: 36 Maretta Dillon profiles Jim Kirwin who is running a course for the Retirement Planning Council to improve health and fitness.

Mary’s Musings: Mary O’Rourke, among other topics, considers her mixed feelings about Christmas and women in politics.

39

Visitor Attractions:

43

Powers of Attorney explained:

48

And so to bed: Eamonn Lynskey considers an important household item

50

Creative writing: New books to delight all ages

54

The importance of flu vaccination:

58

Publishing Directors: Brian McCabe, Des Duggan Editorial Director: John Low Editor At Large: Shay Healy Consultant Editor: Jim Collier Advertising: Willie Fallon Design & Production: www.cornerhouse.ie Contributors: Lorna Hogg, Dermot Gilleece, Maretta Dillon, Jim Collier, Peter Power, Matthew Hughes, Mairead Robinson, Eileen Casey, Debbie Orme, Connie McEvoy Published by S& L Promotions Ltd.,

Front cover: Graham Norton is one of the most successful ‘celebrity wine makers’ with a popular range of reds, whites and sparkling

Unit 1, 15 Oxford Lane, Ranelagh, Dublin 6 Tel: +353 (01) 4969028.

Fax: +353 (01) 4068229 Editorial: John@slp.ie Advertising: willie@slp.ie Sign up to our newsletter and be in with a chance to win some great prizes at www.seniortimes.ie Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

News Now

The Irish Thoracic Society has today called for the centres of expertise in lung fibrosis across Ireland to receive the required resources and staffing so that all patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) – more commonly known as lung fibrosis – receive the same high standards of care. The society is also calling for a clear and specific National Clinical Programme to facilitate a standard pathway of care and to ensure the disease receives the critical focus it requires at all levels of the health service.

IPF is a chronic, fatal disease characterised by progressive scarring of the lungs – approximately 1,000 people in Ireland are living with it, with around 400 new cases diagnosed each year – a similar frequency to that of stomach, brain, and testicular cancers. It is more common in men than women, with a death rate worse than many forms of cancer. Evidence suggests that death rates for IPF in Ireland are above the European Union average.

The call came at the launch of a new national patient registry for lung fibrosis by Catherine Byrne TD, the Minister of State for Health Promotion, taking place in the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. The registry, alongside the publication of a position statement on the management of lung fibrosis, are intended to increase knowledge of the disease and improve the care of patients in Ireland. Both are initiatives of the Irish Thoracic Society – the national organisation of healthcare professionals caring for people with lung disease – and are the culmination of intense multi-disciplinary work by the respiratory community in Ireland.

The Irish Thoracic Society is urging that the specialist centres of expertise in lung fibrosis be resourced with multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs) to ensure early diagnosis and optimal care for patients. These centres should be structured to ensure fair and equitable access for all patients no matter where they live and to ensure that patients with suspected lung fibrosis are diagnosed and treated within 16 weeks. Centres currently have significant deficits in terms of resources and the staffing of multi-disciplinary teams. A specialised multi-disciplinary team should include: •

A respiratory consultant with a special interest in lung fibrosis

•

Lung fibrosis specialist nurse (circa. 1 per 50 patients)

•

Specialist respiratory physiotherapist with an interest in lung fibrosis

•

Access to thoracic surgery, rheumatology, palliative care, medical social worker,

psychological and nutritional supports

The Institute of Community Health Nursing (ICHN) hosted its 2018 community nurse awards in association with Home Instead Senior Care, at its annual nursing conference, rewarding public health nurses for their dedication to community care across the country.

This year the conference moved out of Dublin to the Strand Hotel, Limerick, the theme of the conference was ‘New Horizons: Enhancing Clinical Practice in Community Nursing’ and aimed to provide a day of education, knowledge sharing and networking for public health nurses and an opportunity to take the time to reflect upon industry best practice and new innovations.

Six awards were presented to nominees who delivered exceptional care in their communities in 2016, across a range of services, enhancing the lives of many, and the community at large.

The overall winner was Anne Marie Kelly, CNS Continence Promotion Unit from Dr. Steeven’s Hospital in Dublin. Anne Marie has created a continence model based on national and international evidence. Her advocacy for her clients is unquestioned and her resolve in developing individualised care plans is excellent.

Now in their fourth year, the awards are gratefully sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care, who, through their community offices, help to enhance the lives of the elderly by giving them the help, confidence and independence they need to live in their own homes for longer.

Accessible Tourism Guide

A special programme for accessible tourism has been developed by the city of Lisbon which includes an informative free guide. The object of the guide is to inform disabled and less-abled visitors about accessible spaces and services in the city.

A Friendly City

LISBON

Lisbon is a welcoming city. We know how to look after our visitors, but we want to be even better at it. We want to make sure everyone has the chance to fall in love with our city.

FOR ALL

Programme for accessible tourism in Lisbon

Providing for visitors with reduced mobility (because they bring young children or because they are of a certain age or in a wheelchair) can be a challenge. But we relish such challenges!

This guide showcases the accessibility of our visitor offer.

We see it as a handy tool for both those who are planning a visit and for those who are already here. We hope you will use it to ensure you get the most out of Lisbon.

Lisbon is making a huge effort to become a truly accessible city. We want this guide to take Lisbon one further step along the road to become a city that is userfriendly for all.

João Carlos Afonso Deputy Mayor for Social Rights

© Lisbon Lux

To download a copy of this guide, go to www.visitlisboa.com

2 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

A Friendly City

Irish Thoracic Society calls for more resources to treat lung fibrosis

Public health nurses rewarded for ‘outstanding services’

7

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Irish Heart Foundation launches ‘chairs can kill’ campaign Fashion designers support Saint Josephs Shankill For the third consecutive year the cream of Irish fashion designers will come together for the 2018 Irish Fashion Collective show in aid of Saint Joseph’s Shankill, which will take place in Conrad Dublin on Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2 on Friday 2nd November 2018. This year’s special guest designer is Paul Costelloe will showcase highlights from his international Autumn /Winter 2018 womenswear collection, alongside a collective of other leading Irish designers.

81 year old author publishes latest book

The majority of Irish workplaces and educational settings are not encouraging their staff and students to reduce the amount of time they spend sitting down at work, school or college. As part of its Chairs Can Kill campaign, the Irish Heart Foundation has published research conducted by Ipsos MRBI which shows that people in Ireland spend on average 3.6 hours every day sitting down at work, school or college but almost three fifths (59%) of people report that their school/college/ workplace does not create opportunities for them to sit less during the day.

Brendan Behan’s favourite Dublin bookshop, now an insurance office, became a bookshop again recently for one night with its launch of 81-year old Brendan Lynch’s new book, Princess of the Orient. A Romantic Odyssey.

Parsons Bookshop on the crest of Dublin’s Baggot Street canal bridge was once home from home for locals, Behan , Patrick Kavanagh and short story writer Frank O’Connor.

Other customers included Seamus Heaney, Maeve Binchy, Flann O’Brien and Liam O’Flaherty. Parsons closed in 1989 and is now an FBD Insurance office. Brendan Lynch said ‘It was wonderful to traverse again the floorboards once trodden by the giants of 1950s Irish literature. I was a regular visitor myself and I subsequently wrote a book on the shop.

I am not sure, though, what proprietor May O’Flaherty would think of my new title, which is a little on the risqué side!’

Louth older people take home top prize at National Bowls Competition

The Irish Heart Foundation’s Chairs Can Kill campaign aims to raise awareness of the risks to people’s heart health of sitting for long periods of time. People who sit down for long periods of time are more than twice as likely to develop heart disease and stroke.

When asked whether they had made changes to try to reduce the amount of time they spend sitting down, just 46% of survey respondents said they had. The majority of these (57%) had done so by introducing more activity into their leisure time.

‘As part of our Chairs Can Kill campaign, we have developed a suite of resources for workplaces which identify the health risks of sitting down and offer advice to reduce sitting time in the workplace. We are calling on workplaces across Ireland to get involved in the campaign and support their employees to sit less and be healthier.

Members of the Cooley Active Retirement Bowls team from Co. Louth have taken home the top prize in the Large Bowls cup tournament at Active Retirement Ireland’s 2018 National Bowls Competition and Activity Break.

Sixty teams from across the country competed in a bid to become champions at the competition, which took place at the Breaffy Sports & Events Arena and the Breaffy GAA club, in Castlebar, Co. Mayo recently.

4 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

In addition to the national bowls competition, activity highlights at the three-day Active Retirement Ireland event included the organisation’s inaugural pickleball championship, walks, cookery demonstrations, and yoga.

The Active Retirement Ireland National Bowls Competition and Activity Break 2018 takes place annually in September. Further nformation is available at www.activeirl.ie.

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‘Best Halloween destination in the world’

The upcoming Derry eight-day Halloween Festival has over 100 events featuring at more than 40 indoor and outdoor venues from October 26th-November 3rd.

The theme for this year’s street carnival parade will evoke the ancient origins of Halloween with around 1,000 participants

taking part in the major annual procession attracting tens of thousands of spectators from all over the world.

an illuminated animation trail featuring over 30 installations and performances by local and international artists.

The carnival parade and fireworks display on October 31st will once again be one of the main highlights of the Festival with other big attractions including ‘Awakening the Walls’,

For all the information on Halloween in NI and to book your stay in the ‘Best Halloween Destination in the World’ visit www.discovernorthernireland.com

Inaugural Irish Book Week launched nationwide

Genomics Medicine Ireland and University of Cambridge announce Multiple Sclerosis research collaboration

The inaugural Irish Book Week takes place from October 27th – November 3rd, a nationwide celebration of Irish books and bookshops.

A collaboration between Bookselling Ireland and Publishing Ireland, the week will see events taking place throughout the country, celebrating Irish books and the central role bookshops play in Irish society and culture.

The week aims to encourage people into their local bookshop, and to highlight the important role bookshops play in the fabric of Irish life – fostering cultural creativity, community spirit and generating economic activity. Speaking about the week, Chair of Bookselling Ireland John Keane said: ‘Ireland has such a rich literary heritage and we are delighted to place that centre stage with Irish Book Week. A visit to your local bookshop always brings something different, and we are encouraging people to check in and see what is going on in their local community.’

For information on events and Irish books pop into your local bookshop.

‘Emergency’ app for all ages A new app that allows users to know when a loved one is in distress has been developed, and students who are beginning college this month are being urged to download it.

HYF - The Help Your Friend app has been

Irish life sciences company Genomics Medicine Ireland (GMI) is to collaborate with the University of Cambridge to expand GMI’s comprehensive research examining the underlying genetic factors contributing to Multiple Sclerosis (MS). established by Meath native Hilary Moran, who has used her personal experiences to come up with a way of aiding those who may be in potentially vulnerable situations.

HYF is the must-have emergency welfare app that ensures personal safety for all ages.

The idea for the app came about after a family member of Hilary’s was unable to get help, due to an inability to reach their phone after suffering a stroke. We have all possibly known or heard of someone in a difficult or vulnerable situation.

Most emergency apps require the user to activate their phone to call for help. HYF has been designed to ease the concerns of individuals and loved ones, and there are a number of potential scenarios in which it can be used. You don’t need to press a button to get help, this clever app responds to your inactivity.

Help your Friend is available for download on the Google Play store and on the Apple store.

6 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

The collaboration will leverage up to 15,000 DNA-extracted MS samples which are part of a biobank compiled by Professor Stephen Sawcer – a leading University of Cambridge academic, neurologist and geneticist – in conjunction with his team in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences.

This large dataset, when combined with samples already being collated via GMI’s ongoing Irish cross-border MS research study, will result in one of the world’s largest MS-focused genomic studies ever conducted.

As with any research study, the larger the available analytical data the greater the potential outcomes, therefore this collaboration will provide an enormously increased opportunity for MS researchers to achieve meaningful results that will benefit MS patients not only in Ireland but worldwide.

MS is one of the most common disabling neurological diseases and directly affects an estimated 2.5 million people across the globe, with the majority of those affected experiencing chronic disability.

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Industries Hall, RDS, Dublin October 19th-21st, 11am until 5.30pm daily

General genealogy talks programme at Back To Our Past Friday 19th October

12 noon Delving into Northern Ireland family and local history: Getting started online and at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI)

By Wesley Geddis, Deputy Head of Records Management, Cataloguing and Access at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland .

1pm Things my Granny told me: Writing family history on Ancestry and how it can develop your research by Dr Jennifer Doyle 2pm How to preserve your family history documents.

Christine Deakin of Irish Genealogical Solutions advises on the preservation of family documents and photographs, covering which products to use and not to use and the correct methods of storing items to prevent the deterioration of family history material 3pm Examining the vast genealogical resources at Glasnevin Cemetery 1.6 million souls are buried in Glasnevin Cemetery since first opening in 1832, and Glasnevin Trust hold a burial record for each and every one of those burials.

If you would like to know more about the vast record database at Glasnevin, why not join Resident Genealogist, Lynn Brady, for a comprehensive workshop on the burial records, what they contain and how they can help you with your family history research. You will learn how to use the Glasnevin Trust website, how to access the records, and Lynn will also give advice, information, hints and tips that will help you trace your ancestors through the various sources available nationwide.

You will also receive a €10 genealogy voucher for the Trust website to start you on your search!

4pm Using the National Archives to research your ancestors: an introduction This session will outline the principal archives available to those who wish to undertake genealogical research in the National Archives.

4pm What’s in a name?

Lorna Moloney of Merriman Research explains Clans and surnames of Ireland are legendary.

The Irish naming system provides unique identifying markers for families from the 11th century

Sunday 21st October Saturday 20th October

12 noon How to preserve your family history documents.

Christine Deakin of Irish Genealogical Solutions advises on the preservation of family documents and photographs, covering which products to use and not to use and the correct methods of storing items to prevent the deterioration of family history material 1pm Researching a 19th-century convict ancestor in the National Archives This session will describe the archives available in the National Archives to those who wish to undertake research into a convict ancestor and how they can be used.

2pm Tracing 20th century immigrants to the United States Joe Buggy, Ancestry 3pm Examining the vast genealogical resources at Glasnevin Cemetery Resident Genealogist, Lynn Brady. You will also receive a €10 genealogy voucher for the Trust website to start you on your search!

12 noon An A to Z guide to DNA testing and understanding the results.

Daniel Eini of My Heritage explains 1pm How to trace your ancestors that went to Scotland Dr Irene O’Brien, of Glasgow City Archives, concentrates on elusive Irish ancestors in Glasgow’s unrivalled poor law records (1m) dating from 1845. The talk will describe the Scottish system and the documentation of large numbers of Irish applicants, many born pre-civil registration and some back to the 18th century. The records add vital genealogical data, recording details of 3 generations of the family, including many staying in Ireland. As well as making these links, they also provide a taste of what life was like for large swathes of the population in Glasgow.

2.00pm Examining the vast genealogical resources at Glasnevin Cemetery Resident Genealogist, Lynn Brady.

You will also receive a €10 genealogy voucher for the Trust website to start you on your search!

All talks are free to attend and places offered on a first-come-first-served basis (Talks are approx. 30 minutes in length, with a ten-minute Q&A session.

Talk times and content are subject to change: check with information screen in the hall)

If you cannot visit this event you can request information on the exhibitors and presentations by emailing info@slp.ie 8 Senior Times l September - October 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

Genealogy

DNA Lecture Schedule (All presentations will be given in the Dodder Suite which is above the show hall and will be clearly signposted)

Friday 19th October 11.30 DNA for Beginners (Linda Magellan, ISOGG, US) Thinking of taking a DNA test? Wondering how DNA can help your family tree research? Just got your results and wondering how to interpret them? Then this beginner’s talk is for you.

12.30 How DNA can help at Tuam (Maurice Gleeson, ISOGG, IRL) Almost 800 children died at the Tuam Mothers & Babies home between 1925 & 1961. Many of them may be buried in a pit discovered on the old site of the home. This talk reviews how DNA can help identify the skeletal remains found in the pit, and explores some of the ethical issues involved.

13.30 Combining DNA & Genealogy for the Greater Good (Barbara Rae-Venter, ISOGG, US) This talk explores how the powerful combination of DNA & genealogy has helped adoptees reconnect with their birth families, and more recently has been used to identify murder victims and violent offenders (such as the Golden State Killer).

14.30 Ethical issues & the social application of DNA (Panel Discussion) A public discussion of recent developments in the use of Gedmatch by law enforcement agencies to identify victims of crime as well as serial rapists and killers. Will the use of this pub

10 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

lic database make society safer? But at what cost to the average member of the public?

15.30 A Genomic Compendium of an Island: Documenting Continuity and Change across Irish Human Prehistory (Lara Cassidy, TCD, Dublin) Lara’s recent thesis interprets the DNA results from 93 ancient skeletons found in Ireland dating from about 5000 BC forward. These analyses have helped shape a new exciting history of Ireland’s ancient past and provide the most comprehensive assessment to date of how waves of migration into Ancient Ireland have shaped the people who live in Ireland today.

Young or Old...

Fuel your Brain with Omega-3!

Your brain is a hungry organ that needs more than its share of fats. We’ve been brainwashed into believing that just about all fat is bad for us when, in fact, fats are essential for good brain health.

Fats make up 60% of the brain and the nerves that run every system in the body. When your brain doesn’t get the essential fats, omega-3 and omega-6, it’s hard to feel happy, mentally sharp, and productive.

Smart People are Smart about Fats…

Just as calcium is essential for building strong bones, Omega-3 fatty acids, especially docahexanoic acid (DHA) is essential for good brain health. The European Food Safety Authority state that you need 250mg DHA daily to support brain and eye health. DHA helps to improve learning, mood, memory and concentration. To obtain omega-3, you can either eat 2 portions of oily fish per week (salmon, sardines, anchovies, mackerel, fresh tuna) or take fish oil daily. Surprisingly, an IPSOS/MRBI survey found that 89pc of Irish people are not consuming sufficient oily fish in their diet, so there is often a need to supplement with a high quality fish oil such as Eskimo Brain 3.6.9.

Cognitive Function

DHA is a primary structural component of the brain and specifically of the cerebral cortex, the area of the brain responsible for memory, language, abstraction, creativity, judgment, emotion and attention. Yurko-Mauro et al (2010) found that omega-3 DHA shields against age-related mental decline, improving both learning and memory in older adults.

A study by Mohajeri et al (2015) found that brain DHA levels decrease with age, especially among patients with alzheimers disease, indicating that a reduced DHA content may contribute to deterioration of memory and other cognitive functions.

It’s no surprise that omega-3 is so beneficial to brain health. The importance of these

fatty acids becomes most obvious when they’re lacking. People who don’t get enough omega-3s in their diet can become demotivated, disinterested, forgetful and may experience low mood, while serious deficiency can lead to an increased risk of developing conditions such as ADD, dyslexia, depression and Alzheimer’s.

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Genealogy

12.30 WATO – the latest tool for your at DNA (Andrew Millard, Uni of Durham, UK)

16.30 Introducing DNA Painter (Katherine Borges, ISOGG, US) This user-friendly website is packed with tools to help you analyse your DNA matches (no matter which company you have tested with).

Katherine reviews the tools available and how they can help you in practice.

Saturday 20th October 11.30 DNA testing for Genealogy – The Basics (Donna Rutherford, ISOGG, UK) This introductory talk on DNA for genealogy outlines how the different type of DNA tests can help your research and which one is best for the particular research question you have in mind. Donna covers how to get started, how the tests work, and which test is best for you, using case studies of each type of test.

12.30 Unusual use of Third Party Tools (Cathal McElgunn, ISOGG, IRL) One of the third party tools that can be used with your DNA results predicts physical traits and even propensity to medical conditions (e.g.

Coeliac’s Disease). This talk provides an overview of what is (and is not) possible, how to interpret the results (with caution), and ethical issues raised by these tools.

13.30 The North East Galway DNA Project (Martin Curley, ISOGG, IRL) Using Facebook as a communication tool, the NE Galway DNA Project has had great success in connecting people within the greater Galway area and has reunited Diaspora Irish families with their Local Irish relatives, culminating in a major gathering of families this past summer. These successes have major implications for other similar projects.

14.30 Running successful at DNA Projects in Ireland (Panel Discussion) A public discussion on localised geographical projects in Ireland (usually county-based), how they are run in different parts of the country, what lessons can be learned, and what does the future hold for these projects.

15.30 Developments in O’Neill Clan Genealogy (O’Neill Project Team, ISOGG, US) The O’Neill Clan is one of the biggest clans in Ireland, famous for its legendary progenitor, Niall of the Nine Hostages. Conclusions based on the most recent Y-DNA results will be presented and discussed, including the relevance to families related to the O’Neill clan.

16.30 Finding Missing Persons with DNA (Debbie Kennett, ISOGG, UK) Use of Gedmatch has led to the identification of at least ten “missing persons” in the US, and there are an additional 70-90 people awaiting identification within the Gedmatch database.

This novel use of DNA & Genealogy in combination will be reviewed and ethical issues discussed.

Sunday 21st October 11.30 Raising the Dead (Martin McDowell, ISOGG, IRL) Martin gives a few practical examples of how autosomal DNA can be used to identify specific ancestors and explains how ancestor reconstruction can be used easily as a constructive tool to further your DNA research.

This is something that isn't as complicated as it sounds and might just help you to break through that Brick Wall that refuses to come down.

12 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

Ever wonder how a DNA match fits into your tree? Andrew discusses the new WATO tool and how to apply it in practice to identify where in your tree a match is likely to sit. This is an indispensible tool for those working with adoptees.

13.30 GDPR, Privacy & Data Protection (James Irvine, ISOGG, UK) These are hot topics in genealogy as well as elsewhere. James presents an overview of recent refinements in privacy & data protection and how these are helping to safeguard your DNA. 14.30 DNA, Privacy & Data Protection (Panel Discussion) How can you maximize your privacy & data protection? This facilitated public discussion will give you tips and pointers so that you can easily achieve the level of protection with which you are personally comfortable.

15.30 Untangling a Tumbleweed Branch of the Y-DNA Tree (John Brazil, ISOGG, IRL) As more people test with the Big Y, many branches of the Tree of Mankind are growing further downstream and approaching the surname era (roughly the past 1000 years).

However, the journey is sometimes far from easy. This talk explores the challenges faced in exploring one particular branch, deriving lessons applicable to many others.

16.30 Big Y, WGS, & the future of Y-DNA (John Cleary, ISOGG, UK) The recent introduction of the Big Y-500 has made a significant impact on Y-DNA family history projects. The future of recreational DNA testing will hold some major surprises in particular for the evolution of the Tree of Mankind. This talk explores what we can expect in the next few years.

Light Afternoon tea on

Genealogy

Seamus Heaney: Now Listen Again at the National Library/ Bank of Ireland Cultural Centre The National Library of Ireland’s new exhibition, Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again is the inaugural exhibition to be staged in the new Bank of Ireland Cultural and Heritage Centre at the Bank’s College Green complex.

Rooted in the writer’s archive, donated by the Heaney family to the NLI in 2011, the exhibition provides visitors with an immersive and multi-sensory experience.

Listen Now Again focuses on the poetry for which Seamus Heaney is best known. It features original manuscripts, letters, unpublished works, diary entries, and photographs, and offers visitors an intimate, moving and tactile experience of the writer’s journey; from his childhood in Bellaghy, Co Derry, through to his global renown as a near universally admired poet. The manuscripts selected by exhibition curator Geraldine Higgins, Director of Irish Studies at Emory University, show the poet in conversation with himself; revisions and queries scrawled across drafts of his work, appearing on anything from notebooks to the backs of envelopes and loose pieces of paper.

Listen Now Again reveals the literary legend while also painting a distinctly human picture of Seamus Heaney. Personal possessions loaned by the Heaney family include a lamp which once belonged to WB Yeats, a portrait by Louis le Brocquy, and the Christmas cards Heaney sent every year to friends all over the world. The writer’s desk at which he created some of Ireland’s greatest poetry was no more than a simple sheet of wood placed on top of two squat filing cabinets, and is also on view in the exhibition.

14 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

The story of Seamus Heaney’s life and work opens with Excavations which details his personal and creative beginnings. Next, visitors proceed to Creativity, which examines how he approached his craft, and his many influences. From there, Conscience explores Heaney’s engagement with global issues of politics and justice, particularly the violence in Northern Ireland. Finally, Marvels shows how the poet’s later works moved towards a sense of uplift and airiness.

A particularly poignant video piece in the final section brings together various tributes made to Seamus Heaney on social media following his death, revealing the extent of his influence and impact, transcending geography, generations and backgrounds. Throughout the exhibition space, specially created soundscapes ebb and flow, punctuated by recordings of Heaney’s voice, familiar and reassuring.

Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again is open Monday to Saturday, from 10am to 4pm (last admissions: 3.30pm), at the Bank of Ireland Cultural and Heritage Centre, Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2. Admission is free.

Discover the National Library of Ireland’s free exhibitions…

Experience The Life and Works of William Butler Yeats in our main building at 7-8 Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

Mon-Wed: 9.30am-7.45pm Thur-Sat: 9.30am-4.45pm | Sun: 1pm-4.45pm

Learn about Irish life during World War I with World War Ireland at 2/3 Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

Explore two momentous years of Irish history with From Ballots to Bullets: Ireland 1918-1919 at the National Photographic Archive in Temple Bar, Dublin 2.

Mon-Sat: 10am-5pm | Sun: 12 noon-5pm

Visit Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again at the Bank of Ireland Cultural and Heritage Centre, Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2.

Mon-Sat: 10am-4pm (last admission 3.30pm)

Mon-Wed: 9.30am-7.45pm Thur-Sat: 9.30am-4.45pm | Sun: 1pm-4.45pm

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Find out more at www.nli.ie

LIST OF EXHIBITORS Accredited Genealogists Ireland President: Anne-Marie Smith 74 Maryville Road, Raheny, Dublin 5.

Email: info@accreditedgenealogists.ie Tel: 087 2781992 www.accreditedgenealogists.ie Ancestry 52-55 Sir John Rogerson quay, Dublin 2.

Tel: (003531) 7651559.

Email: rgleeson@ancestry.com www.ancestry.ie Clans of Surnames of Ireland Lorna Moloney, 3 Bauroe, Feakle, Co Clare.

Tel: 00353 87 21184.

Email: merrimanresearch@gmail.com Dublin Coins Tel: 00353 86 8714880 EPIC Museum The CHQ Building, IFSC, Dublin 1 Tel: (003531) 5313688.

Email: info@epicirelandchq.com www.epicchq.com

Irish Roots Magazine Blackrock, Blessington, Co Wicklow Tel: 00353 87 9427815.

Email: editor@irishrootsmagazine.com www.irishrootsmedia.com My Heritage 3 Ariel Sharon St., Or Yehuda 60250, Israel Tel: 00972 54 9703966.

Email: mia.serra@myheritage.com www.myheritage.com National Archives Bishops Street, Dublin 8 Tel: (003531) 4072333.

Email: tquinlan@nationalarchives.ie www.nationalarchives.ie North of Ireland Family History Society Unit C4, Valley Business Centre, 67 Church Road, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim BT36 7LS Tel: 0044 7476481066.

Email: akrobinson@lineone.net

Office of Public Works Visitor Services 20 Lakeside Retail Park, Ballindine Road Claremorris, Co. Mayo. F12 DK30 Tel: (01) 647 6635 Email: info@heritageireland.ie Email: heritagecard@opw.ie Public Record Office of Northern Ireland 2 Titanic Boulevard, Belfast BT3 9HQ Tel: 0044 28 9053 4865.

Email: janet.hancock@communities-ni.gov.uk www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni Royal British Legion 19 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 DO2 HK50 Tel: 1800 992294. Paul Stephenson.

Email: stephenson@outlook.ie TIARA 121 Boston Post Rd. Suite 3, Sudbury, MA 01776, USA Email:susansteele@verizon.net The Medal Society of Ireland Patrick Casey. St. Jude's ,57 Wynberg Park, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.Tel: (003531) 2805068.

FamilytreeDNA European representative: Maurice Gleeson Tel: 0044 796 7734984.

Email: maurice@mauricegleeson.com Genealogical Society of Ireland 105 Allen Park Road, Stillorgan, Co Dublin Tel: 00353 87 2486878.

Email: eddie_gahan_snr@hotmail.com www.familyhistory.ie Glasgow Life Library Tel: 0044 161 836 4056.

Email: Irene.obrien@glasgowlife/org.uk Glasnevin Cemetery Museum Finglas Road, Dublin 11.

Tel: (003531) 8826550.

Email: akilcoyne@glasnevintrust.ie GPO Witness History Museum O’Connell Street, Dublin 1 Tel: (01) 8732102.

Email: john.horgan Irish Genealogical Research Society 6 Brighton Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6.

Tel: (003531) 4928644.

Email: steven@masseyandking.com

Priceless treasures that belong to everyone.

Free admission to the greatest collections of Irish heritage, culture & history in the World.

Irish Genealogical Solutions Killeenagh Cross, Knockanore, Co Waterford Tel: 00353 87 3156807.

Email: christine-deakin@hotmail.com Irish Great War Society McKee Park, Blackhorse Ave., Dublin 7

Open: Tues to Sat 10am to 5pm. Sun 2pm to 5pm. Closed: Monday incl. Holidays.

Guided Tours, Lectures, Museum Shops & CafĂŠs. Please call +353 (0)1 6777 444 16 16 Senior Senior Times Times l lNovember September- December - October 2018 2017l l www.seniortimes.ie Free Admission - For further details please visit us at www.museum.ie

W E N Supports the maintenance of a healthy cholesterol level as part of a healthy lifestyle and diet

Armolipid Classed as a food supplement (1) One tablet daily with or without food (1) Gluten free (1) Take in combination with a healthy diet and lifestyle (1) Available at your local pharmacy Ask your doctor or pharmacist about Armolipid

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Four recipes from Neven Maguire’s new book

BROWN SODA BREAD

MEATBALLS

These authentic Italian meatballs in a rich tomato sauce are delicious piled up on spaghetti, but the meatballs are just so versatile. They are also just as good served in a rich meat gravy with mashed potatoes or try serving them American style by stuffing leftover meatballs and tomato sauce into a roll.

Serves 4–8 225g (8oz) lean minced beef 225g (8oz) minced pork 25g (1oz) Parmesan cheese, freshly grated 8 cream crackers, crushed into crumbs 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 1 tbsp Dijon mustard olive oil, for drizzling and cooking sea salt and freshly ground black pepper TO SERVE 600ml (1 pint) tomato sauce (page 000) 500g (18oz) spaghetti 50g (2oz) Parmesan cheese, freshly grated fresh basil leaves, to garnish Place the minced beef and pork in a bowl with the Parmesan, cream crackers, egg, parsley and Dijon mustard. Season with salt and pepper and use your hands to give everything a good mix. Shape into about 20 even-sized balls. Arrange on a flat baking sheet or tray that will fit in your fridge, drizzle over a little olive oil to lightly coat and chill for 1 hour if time allows.

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a deep-sided frying pan. Add the meatballs and cook for 8–10 minutes, until almost cooked through and nicely browned. Pour in the tomato sauce and simmer gently for another 10 minutes or so, until the sauce has slightly reduced and thickened.

Meanwhile, plunge the spaghetti into a large pan of boiling salted water and simmer for 8–10 minutes, until tender but still with a little bite, or as the Italians say, al dente. Drain well and return to the pan, then add a few ladlefuls of the tomato sauce to coat the pasta.

Divide the spaghetti between warmed pasta bowls, then spoon the meatballs and the rest of the tomato sauce on top. Scatter over the Parmesan and garnish with torn basil leaves to serve.

NEVEN’S TOP TIP You can flash freeze the meatballs if you want to use a little at a time.

Place the raw meatballs on a baking tray spaced well apart and freeze solid before transferring to a ziplock bag. That way, you can use as many as you need. Arrange them on a baking sheet or tray to thaw out for a couple of hours at room temperature before cooking off.

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Otherwise known as wheaten bread, this is a recipe that’s close to my heart, as it has taken me years to prefect. It’s a great bread for novice cooks to start with as there is no proving or kneading, as the bicarbonate is responsible for the rise when it reacts with the buttermilk. If you don’t have any buttermilk in the house, sour ordinary milk with the juice of a lemon or 3 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, which gives the bread a little more tang. It literally goes with everything but is particularly good with soup or cut into slices and served with smoked salmon.

Makes 1 x 600g (1lb 5oz) loaf rapeseed oil, for greasing 225g (8oz) strong white flour, plus extra for dusting 225g (8oz) wholemeal flour 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 2 tsp light muscovado sugar 1 tsp fine sea salt 300ml (½ pint) buttermilk, plus extra if needed 1 heaped tbsp sunflower seeds 2 tsp melted butter, plus extra for spreading to serve 1 tsp golden syrup a handful of porridge oats 1 heaped tsp pumpkin seeds 1 heaped tsp sesame seeds Preheat the oven to 200˚C (400˚F/gas mark 6).

Lightly oil a 600g (1lb 5oz) loaf tin.

Sift the flours and bicarbonate of soda into a large bowl, then stir in the muscovado sugar and salt. Make a well in the centre and add the buttermilk, sunflower seeds, melted butter and golden syrup. Using a large spoon, mix gently and quickly until you have achieved a nice dropping consistency. Add a little more buttermilk if necessary until the dough binds together without being sloppy.

Put the mixture into the prepared loaf tin and sprinkle over the porridge oats, pumpkin and sesame seeds. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes, until cooked through and the loaf has a slightly cracked, crusty top, checking halfway through the cooking time to make sure that it isn’t browning too much. If it is, reduce the temperature or move the loaf down in the oven.

To check that the loaf is properly cooked, tip it out of the tin and tap the base – it should sound hollow. If it doesn’t, return it to the oven for another 5 minutes. Tip out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely.

To serve, place the brown soda bread on a breadboard and cut into slices at the table. Hand around with a separate pot of butter for spreading.

NEVEN’S TOP TIP If you prefer a lighter brown soda bread, simply use about three-quarters strong white bread flour to one-quarter wholemeal and add 25g (1oz) of pinhead oatmeal before adding the buttermilk. I also try to use a coarse wholemeal flour, which will give your bread a lovely nutty flavour and nubbly texture.

Food

MUSHROOMS À LA CRÈME

MAKES ABOUT 450ML (½PINT) 25g (1oz) butter 2 shallots, finely chopped 225g (8oz) button mushrooms, trimmed and sliced 150ml (¼ pint) cream squeeze of fresh lemon juice 1 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 1 tsp chopped fresh chives sea salt and freshly ground black pepper This is a version of the first sauce that I learned to make at college and I still make it to fold into pasta for a quick supper, perhaps sprinkling over some freshly grated Parmesan to serve. It’s very versatile and can also be served with steak, pan-fried pork or lamb chops. It’s fairly rich, so you don’t need much of it – a little goes a long way.

Heat a frying pan over a medium heat. Add half the butter and swirl it around until it has melted and is foaming. Tip in the shallots and sauté for 2–3 minutes, until tender. Add the rest of the butter to the pan, then tip in the mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Sauté for another 5 minutes, until the mushrooms are cooked through and tender.

Pour the cream into the pan and allow to bubble down for a few minutes, until it has thickened to a sauce consistency. Add the lemon juice and herbs, stirring to combine. Season to taste and use immediately or allow to cool down completely and store in a bowl covered with cling film in the fridge for up to two days. Reheat gently in a pan when needed.

NEVEN’S TOP TIP Once you have mastered the basic sauce, experiment by first dry-frying 100g (4oz) of diced pancetta or streaky bacon until sizzling and the fat has started to render, then continue making the sauce as described above. This version would be particularly good with a chicken breast.

I have even used it to fill savoury pancakes on Shrove Tuesday and it was delicious.

Recipes taken from the newly published Neven Maguire’s Home Economics for Life published by Gill Books at E22.99, available in all bookshops and online now.

THREE COPIES OF NEVEN’S BOOK TO BE WON! Senior Times, in association with the publishers, Gill Books, are offering three copies of Home Economics for Life in this competition. To enter answer this simple question: What is the price of this book? Send your answers to Neven Maguire Competition, Senior Times, Unit 1, 15 Oxford Lane, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.

Or email to john@slp.ie The first three correct entries received are the winners. Deadline for receipt of entries is 25th November .

20 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

VANILLA CUPCAKES

Makes 12 175g (6oz) butter, softened 175g (6oz) light muscovado sugar 4 eggs 3 tbsp buttermilk or sour cream seeds of ½ vanilla pod or 1 tsp vanilla extract 225g (8oz) self-raising flour ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda FOR THE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING 500g (18oz) icing sugar 175g (6oz) butter, softened 100g (4oz) cream cheese seeds of 1 vanilla pod or 2 tsp vanilla extract This is a great cupcake recipe that has a sweet and slightly sour cream cheese frosting. I promise that if you make them they are always going to be a big hit. The hardest thing to do is trying to figure out how not to eat them all before you take them to whoever you have made them for!

Preheat the oven to 180˚C (350˚F/gas mark 4). Line a muffin tin with 12 paper cases. Put the butter and sugar in a bowl and beat well. The best way to do this is with a hand-held electric whisk. The mixture should become a little lighter in colour. Add two of the eggs along with buttermilk or sour cream, vanilla and half of the flour and beat well to just combine.

Add the other two eggs and the rest of the flour along with the bicarbonate of soda. Mix so that everything is just combined. Overmixing at this stage can result in tough cupcakes, so easy does it.

Divide the batter between the paper cases. I like to use an ice cream scoop to do this, but if you don’t have one, then use two large spoons.

Place the tin in the oven on the middle shelf and bake for 25–30 minutes, until the cupcakes are cooked. To test, insert a skewer into the centre of a cupcake and it should come out clean. The cupcakes will also smell cooked and be springy to the touch. Remove them from the oven and leave them to cool completely on a wire rack. The cupcakes must be completely cool before you ice them, otherwise the icing will melt.

While the cupcakes are cooling down, put the icing sugar, butter, cream cheese and vanilla in a bowl and mix together just enough to combine.

Mix this with as few ‘stirs’ as possible because if the cream cheese is overmixed the frosting can become thin in consistency. Spoon or pipe the cream cheese frosting over the cooled cupcakes to serve.

NEVEN’S TOP TIP These days everyone seems to go wild for red velvet cupcakes. This recipe can be easily adjusted to make them. Simply use 25g (1oz) of cocoa powder instead of the equivalent amount of flour and add ½ teaspoon of red food colouring (Sugarflair is a good brand) after adding the bicarbonate of soda.

Wildlife

Irish wildlife cameraman and television presenter, Colin Stafford-Johnson, is one of the world’s most acclaimed and internationally awarded filmmakers. His work includes: Secret Life of the Shannon; Wild Ireland, Edge of the World; Living the Wildlife and Wild Ireland. Colin began his career filming tigers in India earning acclaim and respect for his fascinating portrait of one tiger – Broken Tail.

He talks to Maretta Dillon Gloup_'Winner' ad 132x90mm FA.pdf 1 20/08/2018 09:46

Photos Matt Loughrey

‘Filming is just a tool for me.’

You have a really busy life.

It's topsy turvy always moving here, there and everyplace. I bought that bag over there about six years ago and I don't think it's been empty yet. There's always been something in it. So tomorrow (Colin is heading to Iceland) it's a cold place so it's full of cold gear but then it could be a warm place and it's my warm place bag.

C

M

Your home is in Mayo.

I was actually brought up in Cabinteely in Dublin. That was my home. That was where I was raised. We had a garden centre and nursery business there. My dad (Barney Johnson) was the first TV gardener in Ireland. I really left Dublin when I was about 20. Lived in the UK and then overseas for years travelling around the world.

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

What made you take up filming?

I only really discovered that was what I wanted to do when I was about 24 or 25. I had taken a few years off after school to travel around the Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 21

Profile

world, go backpacking and that sort of stuff but always with nature as a focus. Those trips really changed my view of the world. I could see how quickly things were changing - this was in the mid-80s. Half the world's rainforest has gone since I left school. That rate of change had never happened before. I'm not like some crazy wild passionate filmmaker necessarily.

Wildlife is much more the thing. That's where my interest lies. Filming is just a tool for me.

How did you learn to become a wildlife photographer?

I did a degree in the University of Derby in the UK which was the first degree of its kind in the world. It was a degree in biology and filmmaking and taught by people from the BBC Natural History unit. Most importantly, really in this business, I made connections because it's really about being in the right place at the right time and getting to know people in the industry and all that sort of thing.

Would you say that you are reasonably hopeful about the state of the environment?

Well, I mean in Ireland in the last 20 to 30 years we've done a really bad job. But you know there is growing awareness out there. I think we're getting cleverer with how we are doing things but it's just that it's always a battle. You slow down the rate of loss a little bit sometimes.

There's still the potential to make everything much better. Decline isn't inevitable.

I mean farmers did what they were asked to do in this country which is make the land much more productive, but the result is that what's productive for farm animals is not productive for wildlife. We need to get a bit cleverer with how we use our land. We don't really have any proper land management strategy. That's not very sensible. Other areas which are economically poor for farming might be great for wildlife.

So, you don’t think that it is a losing battle?

I've worked for years in India. It's an extreme example but I followed one tiger. I met her in 1999, she became the world's most famous tiger. They reckon she raised between 40 and 50 million dollars in terms of tourism. I met the man who shot her sister who got a hundred dollars. The Indian government get the economic argument now around preserving wildlife and habitats.

What are you working on now?

The next is a series for the BBC called First Year on Earth which is about young animals growing up around the world. I followed a sea otter up in Monterey, California and now I am following an arctic fox cub in Iceland. I’m hoping it's still there because you never know. The first year of life is a difficult time. A month ago, I left eight little fox cubs. When I get back, I am trying to follow one of them, the white one.

‘Half the world's rainforest has gone since I left school. That rate of change had never happened before..’

22 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

Colin Stafford-Johnson

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Call 1800 248 123 Visit tesco.ie Delivery Terms and Conditions are available in-store or online at Tesco.ie Delivery Mon–Sat 3pm-7pm subject to availability. Min. €50 spend per order.

Health

Dry mouth Dry mouth or Xerostomeria is a condition affecting the salivary glands ability to produce saliva.

and waking up in the middle of the night with a feeling of dryness. If you are suffering from dry mouth you may also experience discomfort in your dentures or regularly suffer from ulcers or other oral infections. I

There are several causes of dry mouth. Patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy, patients with diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis can all experience dry mouth. A large number of commonly prescribed drugs can also lead to dry mouth. People affected by the condition often display some of the following symptoms; constantly thirsty, difficulty swallowing certain foods, persistent bad breath

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f you suffer from any of these symptoms don’t worry there is help at hand. Bioxtra has a range of products targeted specifically at relieving the symptoms of Dry Mouth. The Dry Mouth Oral Gel and the Gel Mouthspray mimic the action and feel of saliva as well as forming a moisturizing layer over dry gums, tongue and palate.

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HISTORY SO CLOSE IT COMES ALIVE Explore the 1916 Easter Rising & Modern Irish History in a Spectacular Setting General Post Office, O’Connell St. Lower, Dublin 1 www.gpowitnesshistory.ie

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Looking back in time

?

Guess the year Another teaser from Jerry Perkins

at its plant in Cork. A strong year for literature with new works by Samuel Beckett, WB Yeats, Kate O’Brien, Cecil Day-Lewis and Oliver St-John Gogarty published. Famous Irish births, this year, included Terry Wogan, Paddy Moloney of The Chieftans, tenor Frank Patterson, politicians Gerry Collins and Ray MacSharry, and actors Jim Norton and Frank Kelly. American aviator Douglas ‘Wrong-Way’ Corrigan landed in Ireland after taking off from New York en route to California.

World War II was brewing and about to boil... but other things - good things - were happening, too! Like a World Cup, for instance - Italy beating Hungary 4-2 to win their second in only the third staging of the event. And, nylon hitting the world stage - firstly for use as toothbrush bristles.

László Bíró

Kate O’Brien

made his infamous declaration of ‘peace in our time’ upon his return to Britain. That year Time magazine named Hitler it’s ‘man of the year’ as that year’s most influential person. The Vatican formally recognises the Franco-led fascist government regime in Spain. American business magnate Howard Hughes set a new record by completing a 91-hour aeroplane flight around the world.

Writing became a tad easier with László Bíró patenting the ballpoint pen. European rail travel became much easier with State-owned rail networks in France (the SNCF) and the Netherlands (NS) being established. The first ski-tow, in America, became operational in Vermont. The first ascent of the north face of the Swiss mountain the Eiger was successfully completed.

Other notable events included the first discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia and Austria forcibly being taken over as part of Nazi Germany.

Neville Chamberlain met with Adolf Hitler and

In SPORT heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis knocked out challenger Max Schmeling in the first round of their re-match at Yankee Stadium in New York. Argentina’s famous Estadio Monumental (Antonio Vespucio Liberti to give it its full name) football ground - later made famous by staging the ticker-tape-drenched World Cup final in 1978 opens in Buenos Aires.

In horseracing in the US, in what is billed as ‘the match of the century’ Seabiscuit defeats US Triple Crown champion War Admiral.

In IRELAND Douglas Hyde becomes the country’s first President and is banned by the GAA for attending a soccer match. Fianna Fáil returns to power. Ford builds its 25,000th car

26 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

In CINEMA, Spencer Tracy and Bette Davis took the top acting gongs at the Oscars for Boys Town and Jezebel respectively; while Frank Capra’s You Can’t Take It With You won for best picture.

Superman made his first appearance - albeit as an untested lead character in DC Comics’ Action Comic. The Beano was published for the first time; Benny Goodman became the first jazz musician to headline New York’s Carnegie Hall Answer on page 91

YOUR

TWO PORTIONS OF OILY FISH

MADE DELICIOUS

HIGH IN NATUR AL OMEGA 3

The Irish Heart Foundation and Healthy Ireland recommend you eat up to 2 portions of oil-rich fish a week*.

Try our Baked Potato with Mackerel and Beetroot Horseradish.

For inspiring oil rich fish recipe ideas visit www.johnwest.ie/our-recipes or the John West Ireland YouTube page. *Mackerel is rich in the omega-3s EPA and DHA that contribute to the normal function of the heart.

The beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 0.25g of EPA and DHA. There is typically 1.9g of Omega-3 EPA and DHA in one pack of John West Irish Mackerel Fillets.

#YourNaturalOmega3

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Mother Courage Aubrey Malone on the remarkable Majella O’Donnell

Of all the gin joints in all the world, he walked into hers..

It was September 1999. Majella McLellan was taking a time out from her hotel job in Edinburgh to lend a helping hand to her parents. She was a divorced mother of two. They ran a bar in Tenerife. Daniel O’Donnell had a holiday home there and occasionally dropped in. He knew Majella’s parents but not Majella – until that night.

She sang a song for him - She Moved Through the Fair. The next night they met again in an Irish bar and he kissed her. She liked him and she felt he liked her. How much? Only time would tell.

It would be hard to think of a more incongruous coupling than Majella and Daniel. Didn’t we all think Daniel would go up the aisle with someone as old-fashioned as himself? Someone who might have been queueing up at Kincasslagh for a cup of tea, dressed in a woolly jumper maybe, and sensible shoes?

If you put on your Mystic Meg hat and predicted he’d marry someone who’d already been married before, you’d have been told you were off your trolley. That wasn’t in the plan for Daniel, was it? No, he was going to go for someone who hadn’t been round the block. Maybe not even out of the house – except maybe to see him perform.

But that’s what makes life so interesting. It doesn’t conform to plans. The fact that two people connected on a level that didn’t ‘look right’ on paper is basically why computer dating doesn’t work. Because people aren’t computers.

If you asked Majella herself if she ever thought she’d hook up with someone like Daniel, she’d also have told you that you were off your trolley.

She was vaguely aware of who he was in 1999 but her musical tastes ran more to people like Carole King and Bob Marley rather than middleof-the-road C&W singers.

But when you meet someone in the flesh, or even talk to them on the phone, all your preconceptions go out the window. That’s what I found about Daniel when I interviewed him for Senior Times some years ago.

28 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

He was a lot more savvy than I expected. And a lot more humorous.

Humour was the thing that first attracted Majella to him too. She wasn’t expecting it. It’s not something people bring up much when they’re talking about him. But it’s there. In spades.

It’s really a sign of intelligence, especially humour that’s directed at oneself. Daniel is intelligent enough to play the fool sometimes. It makes him bullet-proof. When you laugh at yourself, it takes the sting out of the insults other people are throwing at you. Daniel has had his fair share of these over the years. They roll off him like water off a duck’s back.

Majella is more sensitive. She’s protective of him. This was apparent in a television interview she did with Brendan O’Connor recently. It looked for all the world like a cuddly exchange until Majella uttered the immortal words to O’Connor: ‘People make fun of Daniel. I’ve seen you do it yourself.’ It takes a lot to shake Brendan O’Connor but she did it. He didn’t know what hit him. He became awkward. She’d got him.

Majella was basically saying that, like most people in Ireland, O’Connor liked attacking an easy target. She was right. Having a go at wee Daniel is almost like a national hobby in this country. It makes people feel superior to him when they say things like, ‘Did you hear Daniel once got a girl into trouble? Yeah – he told her mother she was smoking.’ Ho ho.

Majella doesn’t like these cheap shots. Which is why she put O’Connor in his box. She also said in the interview that Daniel was probably the kindest person she’d ever met in her life. That’s something else we don’t hear about too much. It impressed her just as much as the sense of humour when she first met him. She was reeling from a marital split at the time and feeling all the vulnerability that entailed. Her children were off at boarding school so she was also trying to deal with the empty nest syndrome.

The marriage hadn’t ended well. Her husband had been unfaithful to her.

Not once but many times. In fact he even cheated on her the night before they married. Incurable optimist that she was, she thought she could change him. She didn’t, but she forgave him. She has such a big heart she’s happy that her children have a good relationship with him now, and that he seems to be happy with someone else.

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Profile She wrote about these things in her autobiography, It’s All in the Head, which came out a few years ago. It was nominated for various awards. It deserved them. It was written straight from the heart.

Like Daniel, Majella isn’t afraid to tell you her weaknesses in the book. In one part of it she says she doesn’t think she’s particularly good-looking.

When a man says he loves her she gets a fright. When he says he wants to marry her she doesn’t think, ‘I want to marry you too.’ She thinks: ‘Great. Now I won’t have to be on my own anymore.’ Majella isn’t good at being alone. She has to be in a relationship to feel right about her life.

She’s far too humble in her estimation of herself as she’s a warm and lovely person that any man should be proud to have on his arm. She describes Daniel as ‘a good catch’ but she’s an even better one.

When she met Daniel she was vulnerable. It had been four years since her marriage broke down. She didn’t expect to find another husband.

Especially one who was Ireland’s most eligible bachelor at the time.

Who better to mend a broken heart than our Daniel? With that soft lilt and his earnest listening, he could almost run a support service for betrayed women all on his own.

With Majella he went one better: he proposed marriage to her. There was a break in their relationship after six months when ‘the religious thing’ got to him about her divorce and he started to develop reservations about her. But then one night he was at Mama Mia, the Abba film, and its ‘Go for it’ vibe got to him. Who better than Abba to drive you up the aisle?

Majella had missed him during their split but she’d trained herself not to get too upset when a relationship hit a bump in the road. Too many of them had done so before and dragged her spirits down. So while Daniel soul-searched, she didn’t sit by the phone waiting for it to ring. She let him come back to her in his own good time.

If Daniel appears to us as a man who descended from the clouds of heaven like sanctifying grace, Majella is more obviously someone who’s lived life her on the planet Earth - with all the war wounds that entails.

Apart from the bad marriage and an on-off battle with depression, she got another jolt in 2013 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

She didn’t panic. Majella isn’t the type of woman to do that. Instead of lying down under it, she shaved her head on The Late Late Show. In doing so she raised over 500,000 euro for the Irish Cancer Society. There were so many hits on the ICS website that it crashed. Someone shouted from the audience, ‘Eat your heart out, Sinead O’Connor.’

It was a brave move from a brave lady. It was also one she didn’t even have to think about twice. It was her way of telling the chemo what to do with itself. She was having chemo; chemo wasn’t having her.

In some ways the depression was worse. ‘With chemo,’ she says, ‘you know you’ll feel better in a few days. With depression you don’t.’ Also, people tend to sympathise more with cancer patients than they do with depressed people, even in our so-called enlightened age. Its symptoms are more visible.

Having read her book, I don’t think Majella suffers from depression at all. I hope she won’t mind me saying that. To me what she suffers from is Separation Anxiety. Real depression, as F. Scott Fitzgerald put it, is ‘when it’s 3 a.m. all day every day.’ Majella only got depressed in her life when relationships went wrong. That’s more a circumstantial thing.

The Thurles lass had a happy upbringing. Her father was larger than life but he didn’t give her the pat on the back every child needs. As a result, she tried harder to please him than she did her mother, who was easier to love. He passed away some years ago. Her mother, a beautiful-looking woman, is still with us. Majella tries to spoil her as much as she can.

Money has brought comfort into her life but in another way, it’s been something of a monkey on her back. She’s happier shopping in bargain basements than being presented with Louis Vuitton handbags.

Being a ‘kept’ woman took away her independence. She was always used to earning a crust before she met Daniel. How was she going to get her pride back? One way was to set up an organisation called Donegal Mind Wellness. It strives to combat depression.

30 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

Majella with Daniel and good friend Cliff Richard

Majella has been a granny for a few years now but she still acts like ‘a young wan.’ An imperturbable spirit resides in her, a commendable spontaneity.

‘She shoots first and asks questions afterwards,’ says Daniel. He prefers asking questions than answering them. (I didn’t get too much out of him when I interviewed him). I’ve never interviewed Majella but I imagine if I did I’d have my work cut out trying to get a word in with her.

How can someone go through as much as she has and still exude such bubbliness? She also has hearing loss, which has tied her in with the global movement, Campaign for Better Hearing. In Ireland she’s involved with Hidden Hearing. Three wheels on her wagon, she keeps rolling along. She’s even been on Celebrity Bainisteoir and The All Ireland Talent Show. It’s not like a competition to be as famous as Daniel. She’s been a performer all her life in some shape or form.

The poet William Blake once wrote a book called Songs of Innocence and Experience. Consider that title when you think of the union of opposites that is Majella and Daniel O’Donnell. It seems to sum them up.

When Majella’s marriage broke up, she fell from a rocky perch into the soothing arms of a man unfairly tagged with being boring. In another way, he needed her even more than she needed him. She provided him with the ballast he needed, making him feel that, by some kind of osmosis, he could appropriate her battle scars into his own more sheltered life.

In a word, she blooded Daniel, giving him different wings to fly. Since that life-changing night in Tenerife he’s been marching to her drum just as much as she has to his.

Which isn’t to say their relationship is ideal. What relationship is? Sometimes they flare up with one another, as anyone will know who watches them on TV stravaging the highways and byways of Ireland in their trusty car in search of an accommodating B&B. (Or maybe an old boiler to fix).

They can blithely tell one another to shut up, get off the stage, or whatever you’re having yourself. Then they dust themselves down and move on to the next port of call.

As well as being soulmates, they’re like a comfortable pair of old shoes together at this stage. ‘Our relationship shouldn’t work,’ says Majella, ‘but it does.’

And how.

Houses of the Oireachtas Dáil Éireann

The Dáil is the Lower House of the Oireachtas. A Dáil Member’s official Irish title is “Teachta Dála” which in English means “Deputy to the Dáil”. Members are generally called “TDs” or “Deputies”. The number of Dáil Members is not fixed, but the Constitution provides that there must be at least one TD for every 20,000 to 30,000 people. At present, there are 158 TDs. Dáil Éireann normally meets in plenary session on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. You can watch the debates live on this website and read the Official Report of the debates which is published here on the following day at the latest.

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The Seanad is the Upper House of the Oireachtas and has 60 Members, who are known as Senators. In theory, the Seanad does not recognise political party membership. In practice, however, the make-up of the Seanad generally reflects the strength of the parties in the Dáil. The main function of the Seanad is to debate legislation proposed by the Government.

The Seanad can amend a Bill that has been passed by the Dáil and delay, but not stop, it becoming law.

Committees

Oireachtas committees advise the Houses of the Oireachtas on a range of specific areas. Committee members include TDs, Senators or both. Committees receive submissions and presentations from members of the public, interest groups and Government Departments. Their public meetings are broadcast live and recorded and they may publish reports on specific issues. Committees also scrutinise Government expenditure and debate proposed legislation.

Motoring

Dacia’s all-new Duster ‘cleans up’ its act Breda Corrigan on the second-generation model from the Renault-owned stable

The Dacia Duster has been a huge hit since the Renault-owned Romanian brand came to Ireland in 2013. Using a variety of Renault engines and drivetrains, along with a bespoke body and interior, it was Ireland’s cheapest Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). Buyers found the Duster’s simplicity, ruggedness and practicality very appealing, while the SUV’s raised ride height provided excellent visibility too. With over 10,000 first-generation Duster’s sold in Ireland in just five years, it can confidently claim the title of Dacia’s best selling car.

corners of the front end in order to emphasise the new Duster’s sportier stance. There’s a new wider front grille, while the base of the car’s windscreen has been brought forward by 100mm and the screen itself is now more steeply raked to give the impression that there is more room in the cabin. The rear of the new Duster is marked out by distinctive new tail-lights incorporating a ‘cross’ insignia, while a new tailgate door design also features.

Impressive safety

2nd generation Dacia has just launched its all-new, 2nd generation, Duster to much acclaim and anticipation. The exterior styling changes that have been made seem relatively subtle and minor at first glance, but take a second look and it will become evident that the new Duster enjoys an appearance that is more sophisticated and rugged than before. While the design is a clear evolution of the previous car, Dacia insists every panel has been changed. At the front, the design of the headlight clusters is new, while the headlights themselves have been moved closer to the 32 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

Not prepared to skimp on safety, Dacia has reinforced the entire vehicle frame on every new Duster, while boosting both active and passive safety features too. Hill Start Assist is standard across the entire all-new Duster range, as is ABS, Emergency Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control, multiple airbags (front, side & curtain), LED daytime running lights, 2 x ISOFIX child seat anchorage points and a Tyre Pressure Warning Light. Driving pleasure is enhanced further by standard equipment like a gearshift indicator, stop & start function, ECO driving mode, Bluetooth, speed limiter and double-optic headlights.

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Three trim levels are available in the new Duster SUV range – entry-level ‘Essential’, mid-spec ‘Comfort’ and range-topping ‘Prestige’, while engine options consist of a 1.6-litre ‘SCe’ (petrol) producing 115bhp and a 1.5-litre ‘Blue dCi’ (turbo-diesel) also producing 115bhp. Dacia’s ‘Blue dCi’ diesel engine is equipped with a system to reduce Nitrogen Oxide emissions by injecting an urea-based fluid, AdBlue®, into the exhaust system. A dashboard message will remind you when the AdBlue® needs topping up via a specific AdBlue® filling cap located next to the usual Diesel fuel filler cap. A full tank of AdBlue® will last for 6 full tanks of Diesel. Two-wheel-drive is standard across the range, with four-wheeldrive optional in diesel-engine guise for a very reasonable premium of E2,000.

Test car My test car was an all-new Duster ‘Prestige’ 1.5-litre Blue dCi 115bhp, 6-speed manual, finished in Slate Grey metallic paint. Building on the generous equipment level of the Essential and Comfort models, Prestige specification includes 17” diamond-cut alloy wheels, Prestige upholstery, climate control, blind spot detection, keyless entry & start, parking sensors and a multi-view camera for ease of maneuverability. All of this is on top of standard ‘Comfort’ model specification, which includes cruise control, satin-chrome door mirrors, roof bars, side sills and skid plates, body-coloured door handles, ‘Media Nav’ satellite navigation, electric front & rear windows, rear camera, rear parking sensors and under-seat storage. The punchy engine in my test car produces 260Nm of torque for swift acceleration, allowing the car to sprint from 0-100km/h in just 10.5-seconds, on its way to a top speed of 179km/h (where permitted).

above the ventilation controls add a touch of class. The new front seat cushions are longer than before and there is more adjustability too.

The driver’s seat also gets an armrest for the first time and this can be tucked away when not in use. Thanks to the upright stance of the new Duster, boot space is a generous 445-litres with the rear seats in place.

However, drop the standard split-folding rear seatbacks and this capacity increases to a whopping 1,623-litres for ultimate practicality.

On the road Having driven the previous generation Duster last year, I can honestly say that the all-new Duster is so much better in every crucial area. The new car not only looks more grown-up than the car it replaces, but it drives every bit as good as it looks. The new electro-mechanical power steering system does a fantastic job of filtering out shocks from broken road surfaces around town, while providing a well-judged feel at motorway speeds too. Overall body control in corners is good, with plenty of grip on offer, while highly effective brakes provide excellent stopping power. Dacia claim that, thanks to additional sound-proofing, cabin noise in the all-new Duster has been halved when compared to the previous model and this becomes very evident when on the move. This is an important step in the right direction for Dacia, and one which occupants of the new Duster will really appreciate.

Spacious cabin and boot The cabin of the all-new Duster feels built to last, with a functional dashboard layout incorporating easy-to-read dials, while piano-style buttons 34 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

Dacia claim that as little as 4.3-litres of diesel can be consumed for every 100km driven on an extra-urban driving cycle, meaning that the Duster’s 50-litre fuel tank is capable of a potential range of 1,160km’s. Annual road tax for the new Dacia Duster diesel 2WD is just E200, with an annual tax disc costing E270 in diesel 4WD guise and E390 for the petrol engine model.

Verdict and pricing Overall, Dacia’s all-new Duster SUV looks and feels much smarter, slicker and modern than its top-selling predecessor and it is certain to be yet another huge success for Dacia. Ex-works prices start at just E17,390 for the 1.6-litre SCe ‘Essential’ model,E19,790 in ‘Comfort’ specification andE21,290 in range-topping ‘Prestige’ trim. Diesel engines carry, a very reasonable, E1,200 premium over their petrol equivalent. It is clear to see that the all-new Dacia Duster has ‘cleaned up its act’ and is destined for a bright future. Dacia claims that the all-new Duster is still Ireland’s cheapest SUV, and with special finance offers available now, there has never been a better time to buy.

Profile

Walking the talk of the ‘Forever Young’ Mindset

Maretta Dillon profiles Jim Kirwin who is working with the Retirement Planning Council of Ireland (RPCI) on a day-long course designed to improve health and fitness.

Jim Kirwan has joined forces with Pat Falvey and is the newly appointed Director of the Forever Young Club. He’s a lifestyle and wellbeing coach, an international speaker and a bestselling author, in the age and fitness category on Amazon. His book, The eXercise Factor, shows you how to ‘Ease into the best shape of your life, regardless of your age, weight or current fitness level.’

Jim is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and has many years of experience as an entrepreneur and execu36 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

tive. At 63 years of age, he has walked the talk of the ‘Forever Young’ Mindset for a long time. His personal motto is ‘You don’t have to be fit and healthy to start, but you do have to start to be fit and healthy!’ Jim is working with the Retirement Planning Council of Ireland (RPCI) on a daylong course designed to improve health and fitness.

‘I would say the moving is more important than the exercise. I was an active couch potato. This is somebody who exercises a lot but who spends the rest of their time sitting down and that was me’.

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Profile

Kirwin family run

Who should attend the day long course?

What will the course day look like?

I would see this primarily for people who perhaps have neglected their health and fitness as they've been moving through their 40s and maybe into their 50s. They have had other priorities in their life and maybe they put on a few pounds and are not as active as they used to be. Often people when they get into that age group kind of feel ‘I can't do this anymore, I'm too old’. My message is ‘you're never too old!’. You can always draw a line in the sand. It doesn't really matter where you're starting from, whether it's the couch or you're a little bit more advanced than that. We start from where you are, and we work out what you need to do.

We put in place a plan so that people will walk away from the workshop with a project that they're going to put into practice over the coming months. Then at the end we come back, and we review what they have done.

Do people start too fast with exercise?

Yes, they don’t understand the importance of a gradual progressive approach and they think back to when they were in their 20s but they're not able to do that sort of stuff anymore. I use the four principles: gradual, progressive, challenging but realistic.

What can one expect to be able to do in terms of physical activity in one's 50s and beyond?

The obvious is walking. I think it's important for people to gradually progress so that they're not just walking slowly, that they can warm up, build up a little bit of intensity into their walk and then cool down. They're getting heart benefits, they're getting brain benefits, they're getting fitness benefits so that's what I mean by progressive. People as they get older lose muscle mass. It is important that we try and manage that process, that we do some things which will help us to maintain muscle mass. So, activity of a higher intensity is good. I think older people can do all that stuff.

The idea of exercise can be off-putting for people?

I have moved away from the word exercise because it has connotations of being planned. What about unplanned activity? That’s all the activity you get from the moment you wake up to the time you go to bed at night. That form of activity has been decimated in our lifetime. All the sitting that we do, on the mobile phones etc. The way life has changed and so it's important for people to understand the need to develop a moving mindset where they're constantly looking for ways to get up and move. I would say the moving is more important than the exercise. I was an active couch potato. This is somebody who exercises a lot but who spends the rest of their time sitting down and that was me.

38 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

So, this is about helping people to change. And then at the end we review how they got on and we'll be able to demonstrate significant improvements whether it's in their activity, nutrition, perhaps weight.

Hopefully by the end of the project, they will have been motivated and inspired to keep going and maintain the behaviour into the future.

After lunch, we have a walking challenge outside so we're getting up and active as well. This is not just sitting down listening to me pontificate. The importance of having fun, enjoying and celebrating the victories along the way. I'd be hopeful that most of the people would come back saying, ok so I've achieved the walk, what's next? I can then talk about back-toback projects which are gradual and progressive.

What is your own personal motivation?

My dad died from a massive heart attack when he was 47. That has really had a profound impact on my life and myself. You need to find a cause, a reason. It could be personal, it could be family related, it could be something like walking to raise funds for your favourite charity. Anything that develops the inspiration and the motivation to increase health and fitness.

Act today! Book your place on the next Your New Lifestyle Mission course which takes place on Wednesday, November 14 in the RPCI training facility at 14 -15 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2. The day long course costs €120.00 which includes all course materials, tea/coffee and lunch on the day and a follow-up phone call to check on each participant’s progress towards their goal. Please contact the RPCI to book a place – Coursebookings@rpc.ie or 01 4789471.

Established in 1974, the RPCI is a Registered Charity, a not for profit organisation, wholly independent of all financial institutions and with a voluntary board of directors. RPCI is based at 14/15 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2 Ph: 01 478 9471 / www.rpc.ie Courses are held in Dublin and around the country on a very regular basis. Please check the website for more details.

Mary’s Musings In her latest column Mary O’Rourke considers, among other topics, her

mixed feelings towards Christmas, women in politics, Transition Year and Conor O’Clery’s book The Shoemaker and his Daughter

It’s been a busy autumn I’m sure for many of our readers, and busy too for me. If I was to pick one event out of all that has happened since we last spoke together, it was an event at which I was asked to speak called Women for Election.

Hello to all the readers of Senior Times.

I am conscious in writing this column that we are facing into November and December – what a vast canvas that is. The frenzy and lead-up to Christmas, Christmas itself, and all that goes on within it and after it. I know every year I say to myself: I will not get into that frenzy, I’ll steer clear of it, but I know full well it doesn’t always work out like that. There is all the advertising on TV and radio, in shops, the constant Christmas jingles – who could escape being part of the frenzy? It would be very difficult.

For myself, I am not a great advocate of Christmas. I love it now because of my grandchildren and the various stages of life they are going through. On Christmas day I will be with my son Aengus, his wife Lisa and their four children here in Athlone, and it is always a lovely day.

But I feel within me intensely lonely on that day,

because I think back to when Enda was alive and when we had a different kind of Christmas.

I suppose most people have these feelings.

I particularly feel it on Christmas day, so that brings with it a deep sense of being alone – though I am not alone on the day itself, within me I feel alone. However, there’s a lot to be gone through before that feeling comes along, and in the meantime I too will be part of the frenzy and the build-up.

Since we last spoke together so much has happened. I must tell you all that at the Kennedy Summer School, to which I referred in my last column, four or five people came up to me separately after the lecture on Brexit who had read that I was going to be there through the pages of Senior Times. I was delighted to talk with them and to know that the reach of this fine magazine is so wide. Equally, I had mes-

sages and letters from people in Connemara who had read that I was going there. So you see it’s good to talk and it’s good to hear back.

So it’s been a busy autumn I’m sure for many of our readers, and busy too for me. If I was to pick one event out of all that has happened since we last spoke together, it was an event at which I was asked to speak called Women for Election. This is run by an organisation which supports women of all political parties who are aiming to run for the upcoming local and general elections which are scheduled to take place of May of 2019.

I was asked to speak to them from my own experience of being in politics, and also take questions and discuss with them in general what they could do. It was most interesting to be at close quarters with so many women

Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 39

Mary’s Musings Loreto Dalkey have a good event each year in which they ask a woman who has ‘made it’ in their lives to come and talk with the girls, the young women. Last year they had Miriam O’Callaghan, and the year before that they had Mary Harney, and this year they had Mary O’Rourke!

from so many different political ideologies, all determined that they were going to make their mark in politics at some level, and I thought it a very worthwhile path on which they were going to tread. Yes of course there are not enough women in public life, and this organisation, Women for Election, has set itself up to rectify that. There were also women there who were hoping to succeed further in the commercial boardroom or who hoped to get on the board of governors of their local school, or indeed in a more prosaic sense to get onto and help to run their local residents’ association. The whole event was about the further empowerment of women, and I was so glad to be part of that very wonderful afternoon in Dublin.

Still on the theme of empowerment of women, I had a wonderful couple of hours in Loreto Abbey in Dalkey, a secondary school for girls where my Dublin granddaughter Jennifer O’Rourke attends. They run a very good Transition Year programme and their teacher in charge, the coordinator of Transition Year, got in touch with me. They have a very good event each year in which they ask a woman who has ‘made it’ in their lives to come and talk with the girls, the young women, in Loreto. Last year they had Miriam O’Callaghan, and the year before that they had Mary Harney, and this year they had Mary O’Rourke.

As we all know, ‘the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts’, and so it was in that wonderful audience of near 100 young people who were enthusiastic, affirmative and so forward looking about their studies now and the life that is to come before all of them.

I admire very much the verve and enthusiasm of their Transition Year coordinator Marie Lonergan. In my years of being the Minister for Education, I gave great impetus to Transition Year, but I always thought it depended very much on the school putting a person in charge of that year who would be determined that the young people would gain work experience, yes of course, and would gain a greater knowledge of life ahead of them, yes of course, but above

all would gain from having that extra year at secondary school.

Initially you know it was thought of as a ‘doss’ year, but correctly tutored and mentored and carried through it can be of inestimable benefit to the young people who are participating in it.

Anyway I had a great few hours in Loreto Abbey in Dalkey and I hope the future will be bright for those young girls and women whom I met there.

Now that winter is coming in, I expect we all have a bit more time for reading. In my mind the best book I’ve read for a long time was not one through the Pat Kenny Show book club, but a book I launched recently in Ballinasloe for Nuala O’Connor. The name of the book is Becoming Belle. It’s an amazing story of how a young English girl, Isabel Bilton, came to London in the 1880s and established herself as a Vaudeville star. She later became the lover and then the wife of the last Earl of Clancarty in Garbally Park in Ballinasloe, and he brought her to Ballinasloe as his bride.

Now there are all sorts of intrigues and adventures in the whole 350 pages, but it is a wonderful book and I was very honoured to be asked to launch it in the public library in Ballinasloe. I am sure if any of the readers go into any of the public libraries around Ireland they will be able to order the book there. Another very good one which I have read with great enjoyment recently is Conor O’Clery’s book. I am sure you remember Conor O’Clery: he was the correspondent for The Irish Times in Russia and later in the US. He has written a wonderful book called The Shoemaker and his Daughter, and it’s all about his romance and marriage with a young Russian woman, Zhanna. What is so good about it is that it explains the whole make-up of Russia, the various states in it, the various rulers it has had, and the outcome now under Putin. It’s a book well worth reading, both for the story itself and for the endless avenues it opens up to the reader of life in Russia under the various dictators. am sure many of the readers of Senior Times are following the tortuous path of Brexit. Quite recently we had the Conservative Party con

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Mary’s Musings A book I have read with great enjoyment recently is Conor O’Clery’s The Shoemaker and his Daughter, and it’s all about his romance and marriage

I admired the chutzpah of Theresa May when she came onto the platform at the recent Conservative Party Conference gyrating to the tune of Abba and ‘Dancing Queen’. She was certainly giving the two fingers to Boris Johnson

with a young Russian woman, Zhanna.

ference in the UK and I have to say I admired the chutzpah of Theresa May when she came onto the platform gyrating to the tune of Abba and ‘Dancing Queen’. She was certainly giving the two fingers to Boris Johnson, who earlier in the day had addressed a fringe meeting where thousands queued up for a few hours to hear him talk. You know the shambolic way he walks, so she was sort of saying to him, Hey I’m much smarter than you, and look I can dance, you can’t do that – but she fairly laid it on the line to him.

No matter what you say about the Conservative Party politics in the UK and the mess they have got themselves into with Brexit, she sure is some woman.

Brexit, as I said earlier, continues on its tortuous way. One week it looks as if there could be a breakthrough; the following week there’s no breakthrough and it’s stalemate again. And so it goes on its not so merry way. By the midMarch 2019 date, the outcome will have to be clear-cut one way or another. I have my deep doubts about the reams of honeyed words which we have heard for the last number of months from Michel Barnier and Donald Tusk and all of the Europeans as they say No, we’re with Ireland on this one, we will back you up and we will stand by you. As I say I entertain doubts about that avowed pledge, but let’s hope that it comes to a satisfactory conclusion, albeit that it may be in many ways a fudge.

On Thursday October 25 I will be co-hosting The Tonight Show on Virgin Media One (TV3).

I’m looking forward to it but of course am full of trepidation as well. I hope it will go okay and that we will manage to ruffle a few feathers with the panel, but not too much of a ruffle-up, more a questioning and a doubting, which all good presenters should have!!

The editor of Senior Times has kindly invited me to visit the upcoming 50 Plus show in the

RDS and I certainly hope to do so. I’m looking forward to meeting so many of the readers and exchanging our viewpoints and our ideas about life and what makes matters tick over.

Please if you see me come up to me and talk – there is nothing I like more than a good discussion and chat, and I will be so looking forward to making the acquaintance of so many of you.

certainly be something that all of the parties will be working towards and getting their members involved in. Meanwhile, by the time you read this the new president of Ireland will have been elected. So far the campaign has proven to be extremely quiet, no fireworks whatsoever and very little electioneering, and indeed very few fiery debates of any kind on the issue.

By the time I do that the Budget will have come and gone, and indeed there was very little disturbance about it one way or another, except for the feverish discussion before, during and after as to when the next general election will be.

Now I’m very conscious that I may have to eat my words if there is some big blow-up or talkative explosion prior to the presidential election, but somehow I think not. When you are writing a column to cover the next two months, that is one of the dangers that lies beneath the surface all the time. But however it works out I hope that we will either regain an existing president who has done us all very proud, or we will have gained a new president of Ireland who will equally do us, the citizens of Ireland, proud also.

So let’s wait and see.

It is no secret that the confidence and supply arrangement which Micheál Martin and the Fianna Fáil party have given the Fine Gael government has been of great benefit to the country. Naturally there are restive feelings on both sides, both among the Fine Gael members and the Fianna Fáil members, and it’s a matter of great conjecture was to whether there will be another sign-up to confidence and supply. I myself think that if there is another such sign-up it will be for a brief period, perhaps for one more budget? Time will tell if this forecast is correct or not.

May of 2019 will be the time of the next sched uled local and European elections, and that will

42 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

I’ll close now and wish all of the readers of this lovely magazine, Senior Times, a happy Christmas, and my very warmest wishes for a time with family and friends, and also a quiet time, a time for remembrance, in a happy sense, of days gone by.

Hope to talk with you all in a couple of months’ time. In the meantime, go safely.

Slán go fóill.

PASSIONATE ABOUT GREAT VISITOR EXPERIENCES

VISIT

EXPLORE

Contact us for suggested itineraries and rates for your day out: Fota House, Arboretum and Gardens, Co. Cork T: +353 21 4815543 or email: info@fotahouse.com

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Senior Times l September - October 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 43

Visitor Attractions

KYLEMORE ABBEY & VICTORIAN WALLED GARDEN Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Garden is just one hour from Galway city and one of Ireland’s top tourist attractions. Situated in the heart of beautiful Connemara Kylemore Abbey is rightly known as one of Irelands best loved- and most iconic country estates. Built in 1868 as an elaborate gift for Margaret the wife of the fabulously wealthy Mitchell Henry, Kylemore has had a rich and varied history.

Kylemore’s story encompasses romance, politics, tragedy, and excess but also spirituality education and innovation. Owned by the Benedictine order of nuns since 1920, over the years Kylemore has evolved into a place of welcome

and hospitality. Experience woodland and lake shore walks, magnificent buildings and Ireland’s largest Walled Garden! Enjoy wholesome food and delicious home-baking in our Café or Garden Tea House.

History talks take place three times a day in the Abbey and tours of the Walled Garden take place throughout the summer. Browse our Craft and Design Shop for unique gifts including Kylemore Abbey Pottery and award winning chocolate handmade by the Benedictine nuns .The estate is open all year and great value accommodation is available locally,

choose from luxurious hotels, gracious guest houses and cosy B+Bs. Other nearby visitor attractions include Connemara National Park, the Derrygimlagh Alcock and Brown landing site and the endless beauty of Connemara’s’ lakes, mountains and beaches. Make Kylemore Abbey a part of your Connemara Experience! Senior rates available for over 65s.

To find our more visit: www.kylemoreabbey.com or call 095 52001

+353 (0) 95 52001 info@kylemoreabbey.com

Visit beautiful Kylemore Abbey in the heart of Connemara, home to the Benedictine community since 1920. History, nature, exploration, relaxation, shopping and dining combine to create the perfect day out at any time of year.

44 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

www.kylemoreabbey.com /KylemoreAbbeyandGarden /Kylemoretoday @Kylemoreabbey

Fota is set amidst rolling parkland and situated 10 miles from Cork city, offering a truly unique historic experience. Fota House is Ireland’s finest example of Regency period architecture with superb neoclassical interiors designed by 19th century architects Richard and William Morrison. Visitors can enjoy the grand decor of the principle rooms and charming nursery, or the service wing with the beautifully preserved kitchens. Paintings include works by William Ashford PRHA, Robert Carver, Jonathan Fisher and Thomas Roberts.

The wonderful Fota team and local volunteers who are passionate about the house and its history will entertain you with stories of the people who lived at Fota and the servants who worked there. You can also visit the fascinating award-winning Victorian Working Garden which has been brought back to life. This includes the beautiful orchard, pit houses and working glasshouses. It once supplied the house with fruit and vegetables and it is now buzzing with activity with volunteers propagating and growing produce and plants to support the property. The Victorian Working Garden is free of charge and open Monday – Friday from March to September where you can wander about and take it all in. It is also open on certain days the rest of the year and by appointment.

FOTA HOUSE, ARBORETUM & GARDENS, CO. CORK

Enjoy delicious home cooking at the Bakestone café from March to September and weekends in the autumn. A range of events for all ages and interests take place throughout the year including garden, craft, seasonal and family events, evening concerts, courses and seminars. Fota House is also available for weddings, conferences and private dining. There is ample parking and coaches are welcome. Fota House & Gardens is an Irish Heritage Trust Property. www.irishheritagetrust.ie.

For further information please contact Fota House & Gardens: Tel: 021 481 5543 or email: info@fotahouse.com / www.fotahouse.com

Russborough House & Parklands

Christmas at

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For a unique Christmas experience see Ireland’s most beautiful house decked out in Yuletide finery. Enjoy mulled wine and mince pies or cookies and hot chocolate after a magical tour of the house at its festive best.

Call us on: +353 (0)45 865239 | Email us at: info@russborough.ie | Eircode: W91 W284 www.russborough.ie

Be Our Royal Guests at Mulranny Park Hotel, Mayo

The Mulranny Park Hotel is rich in history and has been receiving guests from all over the world since first opening in 1897 including a very special “Royal Visit” from John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1968 (see newspaper clipping). I invite you to take the time to explore the hotel and enjoy our many facilities including the Leisure Club which features a 20 meter swimming pool, sauna, steam room, outdoor Canadian hot tub and gymnasium. Enjoy a gourmet meal in our Award Winning Nephin Restaurant. Our Waterfront Bar serves food daily and is ideal for a leisurely meal or beverage while admiring our wonderful views of Clew Bay and Croagh Patrick.

There is much to explore on our doorstep, the rugged beauty of Achill Island with its breathtaking Atlantic Drive and enchanting Keem Bay. A shopping trip to the award winning towns of Westport and Castlebar or a relaxing walk along Mulranny Beach via the causeway, directly across from the hotel, is a must.

For the more adventurous there are many outdoor activities to pursue including golf, fishing, sailing, kayaking or surfing.

Discover The Great Western Greenway at our back door which runs from Westport to Achill – a 42km cycle and walk-way fully off road. Bicycle hire is available on site to cater for every member of the family.

Discover some of The Wild Atlantic Way while you are here with us. Allow our Reception team to assist you in planning your excursions to explore the best of what is to offer in the West.

What sets us apart from other hotels is not just our unique and beautiful location but

our friendly and willing team who will go that extra mile to ensure that your stay is all that you expected and more.

Mulranny Park Hotel - with the Wild Atlantic Way at the front roor and the Great Western Greenway at the back.

For further information, please contact us at: T: (098) 36703 E: sales@mulrannyparkhotel.ie www.mulrannyparkhotel.ie

Win 2 Nights B&B + Dinner for 2!

To be in with a chance to WIN 2 Nights Bed & Breakfast in the John Lennon Suite + 2 Dinners in our AA rosette Award ‘Nephin’ Restaurant, simply answer the question below & post entries to Senior Times, John Lennon Comp., 15 Oxford Lane, Ranelagh, D6.

Or email the answer to seniortimescomp@gmail.com Deadline for entries is midday, December 7th. One entry per person or instant disqualification.

Question: What music group did John Lennon perform with?

If you do wish not to receive further details of future offers from us or from the Mulranny Hotel please tick this box

46 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

Health

A Cure for IBS? One in five people in Ireland suffer from IBS. However, few will talk about the illness or its symptoms and how it affects them. We ask the question...

What Is IBS? Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the large intestine. Signs and symptoms include bloating, pain, cramps, diarrhoea and constipation. An increasing number of Irish people experience these symptoms on a daily basis, but many fail to seek help due to embarrassment.

And the symptoms are more than physical.

The severity of the disorder varies from person to person, but for some, their severe daily bowel problems means that IBS affects their ability to work, sleep and enjoy life.

But help is out there. A probiotic supplement developed in Ireland has been scientifically proven to target and reduce symptoms such as bloating, abdominal cramps and alternating diarrhoea and constipation.

Alflorex, which is 100% natural, is part of the same family of bacteria that is passed from mother to child at birth. It is a precision strain that goes straight to work where needed.

Not only that, we’ve all heard that probiotics can aid gut health and ease digestive issues, but while many probiotics on the market claim to help ease digestive issues, Alforex, which is available over the counter, and without prescription, has 18 years of clinical research behind it, and its unique strain of probiotic has been clinically proven to target the symptoms of abdominal pain and discomfort, bloating, and wind associated with IBS. Many users noted a change in the severity of their symptoms in a few weeks, with one Dublin man, Jon, hailing it as life changing, explaining, “I can honestly say Alflorex® has been a real game changer for me. It has changed my life.

Before taking Alflorex® I was going to the toilet

8-9 times per day. I suffered with diarrhoea, severe cramping and unpredictable bowel movements on a daily basis. I needed to be near a toilet at all times. Since taking Alflorex ®, these symptoms no longer inhibit my social life and I have the freedom to dine out and vary what I eat, without any reaction afterwards.

I’m much more active and outgoing, even going to festivals! I’m loving life thanks to the difference Alflorex ® has made for me. I always recommend it to others.”

Available in pharmacies and health food stores throughout Ireland

Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 47

• • •

•

2.

Essay

And so to bed..

Eamonn Lynskey considers an important household item

A TV programme I saw recently focused on inventions that were the most useful to mankind. The wheel was mentioned briefly, just to get the show on the road it seemed, and also the evolution of laws which encourage us not to kill each other too readily.

Predictably the invention of printing came up, along with all the technological advances leading to the extraordinary ‘digital revolution’ which enables us to watch cats dancing in hats on YouTube. However, some inventions which were our earliest advances in the business of living were hardly mentioned. The humble bowl, for instance, and other indispensables, such as the hammer and the knife, got short shrift. I suppose this was because they are rather dull fellows for TV programmes and their first appearance is so shrouded in the mists of ancient times that we take them for granted. They’ve always been around, it seems. They just happened.

Well of course they can’t have always been around. And they most assuredly did not ‘just happen’. There must have been a moment in our (very) distant past when a clever hirsute ancestor realised that if water could remain trapped in a cleft of rock it could also be trapped in something that could be carried around, and so hello the bowl! And, very soon afterwards hello pottery! Similarly, a clever ancestor (the same one perhaps?), growing tired

There must have been a moment in our (very) distant past when a clever hirsute ancestor realised that if water could remain trapped in a cleft of rock it could also be trapped in something that could be carried around, and so hello the bowl!

of pulling meat apart with his hands, thought to himself, or – I must remember to say – herself: ‘Now, if I had something narrow with a sharp edge ’ and then, as they say, the rest is history.

And yes, to be fair, bowls, knives and hammers do crop up in treatments of our earliest inventions, but only as a brief prelude to the really interesting things that happened later on. And I will myself brush them aside just now so that I can talk about an invention that only rarely

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gets a mention and yet is a most essential part of our daily living. As with the knife, bowl and hammer, there seems to be an opinion abroad that no one actually ‘invented’ the bed and I want to dispute the view that this common and most essential household object appeared spontaneously; that that our ancients, when they grew tired, just threw themselves down wherever they they happened to be at the time and went to sleep.

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Essay

century where the innkeeper was always on the look-out for well-pecuniaried guests, to whom he would show a particular room and wherein was a particularly comfortable bed.

The Great bed of Ware, named after the town of Ware in Hertfordshire, and which is still to be seen in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. A gigantic four-poster, it measures nearly twelve feet square and dates from the seventeenth century.

This is an entirely unlikely scenario. I will have none of the theory that, like our near cousins the orangs, we were given to dwell in trees, Tarzan-like, until one of us had the idea (that same clever ancestor again?) of coming down to earth permanently; and that, having taken this irrevocable step, homo sapiens made his bed and then had to lie on it. Yes, perhaps, first there was only the ground to lie on, but I am convinced that there must have been a moment when someone (him again?) got the idea about assembling an actual raised bed.

Patently, it was such a good idea that it cannot have just ‘come about’. A lot of beard-stroking and thinking must have gone into it; and after the advent of that extraordinary invention there must have arrived another one, equally welcome – the mattress, so vitally necessary an addition, as anybody who has ever gone camping without a good ground-sheet will allow. And so, behold! The era of comfortable bedroom furniture came into being.

As to the importance of the bed, the Good Book itself tells us that ‘Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head ’ and what greater authority can there be than Holy Writ to attest the primary necessity of having somewhere to rest after a wearisome day? Matthew is certainly not talking about those couple of skins thrown on the floor by our ignorant ancestors, but something a lot more congenial on which to lay one’s head on, something raised a little in order to keep the sleeper beyond the attentions of any prowling nocturnal pests. In short: a bed.

And so many kinds of beds there are! – proof again that not mere chance but man’s ingenuity was responsible for this great discovery. We are concerned here of course with the ordinary type of bed, ranging from the King Size down to the humble fold-up bed – the kind Mercutio referred to when, fed up with hearing about Romeo’s love affair, he declared he would retire to his ‘truckle bed’. There are of course

other greater and grander examples, like the one found in Tutankhamen’s tomb which was made of carved ebony overlaid with sheetgold and which the Boy-King evidently hoped would ensure his comfort in the next world. He also packed what must be one of the earliest examples of a fold-up (c.1300 BC), just in case the route to eternity involved a lot of travel.

There is also The Great bed of Ware, named after the town of Ware in Hertfordshire, and which is still to be seen in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. A gigantic four-poster, it measures nearly twelve feet square and dates from the seventeenth century. It was (and is) capable of holding a dozen sleepers at a time, but I tend to think that the very size of this monster dispels any idea of comfort, not to say intimacy. Surely among the sleepers there must always have been be two or three of that congregation so hostile to other people’s peaceful repose, The Snorers – those inconsiderates who always declare next morning that they didn’t sleep a wink all night.

But I digress One thing that everyone can agree upon is that people of all eras have been very careful to see that their beds are placed well out of the way of drafts and are provided with suitable coverings if at all possible. Nowhere is there any idea of a careless or off-hand attitude towards these ancillary items under which, in normal circumstances, we will spend one third of our lives. What is more cheering, coming towards the end of a wearisome day, than the thought of relaxing into a soft bed, pulling up the coverlet, turning off the bedside lamp and congratulating oneself on being shut of the world and its worries for a few hours? And it would certainly not be my intention to dispel this pleasant scenario but I have to relate that there were instances of when the bed was the scene of more uncomfortable experiences.

Among the very worst of these took place in The Crane Inn in Middlesex in the sixteenth

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He would then wait until his guest was well asleep before releasing a lever which dropped the said guest into a vat of scalding water in the room beneath. When the corpse was well and truly cooked, he would dispose of it and of course dispose also of any monies and valuables the unfortunate victim left behind.

And yes, this is certainly the kind of story that would make one want to check out the bed in any hotel accommodation before retiring, but my reader will be relieved to hear that the villain was eventually found out and hanged, although not until some sixty unfortunates had been despatched. For this dark chapter of bed-history I am indebted to an old book I picked recently in a second-hand stall, The Philosophy of the Bed, by Mary Eden and Richard Carrington (Hutchinson, 1961) which is a treasury of information on this important subject.

Think too how much this item of furniture has enriched our language. We talk of how one makes one’s bed and then must lie in it. We warn our lazy teenagers to get down to their studies for the Leaving Cert because life up ahead will not be a bed of roses. Reporters are ‘embedded’ with army units in combat zones so as to give realistic accounts of what is going on (or rather, to give realistic accounts from the army’s point of view of what is going on).

We have flower-beds and river beds and bed rocks and bed-and-breakfasts and and why am I beginning to feel sleepy?

The bed is our lifelong comforter and for this, and for so many years of restorative repose, we must regard it with gratitude and affection and give it its rightful place in the history of human advancement as an invention without which – like the advent of the knife, bowl and hammer – life would be scarcely liveable. Can we say the same about the iPod? And so it is that when you step into your bedroom this evening, please take a moment to contemplate this most important item, for this is the place where you nightly recharge your biological batteries in order to fight the good fight again on the morrow. It is the place where by far the most of us began our journey through this ‘Valley of Tears’ and it is also the place where we will, if we are fortunate, commence our departure into eternity. I say ‘fortunate’ because there are so many who will suffer the circumstance of a worse passage.

After the trials and tribulations of our wakeful hours who is it has not looked forward to a good night’s rest? As my mother used always say when turning back the top sheet and reaching for her book: best time of day.

Thelma Mansfield is the New Face and Voice of Home Instead Senior Care

Ireland’s leading home care provider, Home Instead Senior Care, has teamed up with Thelma Mansfield, former television presenter and artist, to inform older people and their families about the availability of private home care services, helping more people to live a happy, healthy and independent life at home.

In the advert, Thelma reminds viewers of Ireland’s ageing population and how it is a priority for families across the country to select the right care partner. She recommends families contact Home Instead Senior Care which has “a reputation for experience” and “CAREGivers who really care”.

Starting in September 2017, Thelma became the voice of Home Instead Senior Care on national radio and in December 2017, she became the new face of Home Instead Senior Care with a brand new advert featuring her during popular programmes such as the Oireachtas Report, Six One News, Winning Streak, Fair City and the Late Late Show.

“We see many families looking for senior care help and advice. Many adult children have been home to visit their older parents for Christmas and realise a helping hand could go a long way. It is important for Home Instead to have a heightened presence and awareness so families know who to contact for help and advice during what may be a stressful time”, said Ed Murphy, Founder of Home Instead Senior Care in Ireland.

By promoting the home care service on the nation’s leading TV channel, there has been increased awareness of private home care as well as the quality of home care services provided by Home Instead Senior Care.

Thelma Mansfield is now working as an artist and the TV advert was recorded in her Dublin home.

Thelma is also a family carer for her husband which gives her credibility and trust when it comes to discussing private home care services.

Most importantly, Thelma lets people know Home Instead Senior Care does not take a one size fits all approach to home care. The organisation works with families on a care plan tailored to their care needs.

For more information on home care services call your local Home Instead Senior Care office on 1890 989 755 or visit HomeInstead.ie.

Creative Writing Eileen Casey

New books to delight all Ages Eileen Casey on a rich vein of Irish fiction currently being published

Breda Joy’s debut earns her high praise from much loved author Alice Taylor, describing the novel as ‘A blend of family, community and love of a horse paints a picture of an Ireland that could only be created by someone who knows her people.’

Around about early autumn each year, aspiring novelists all over the country are putting the finishing touches to their masterpieces, their intention being to enter the Novel Fair in the Writers Centre, Parnell Square, Dublin. The idea is simple, a sort of ‘Dragon’s Den’ for writers. The entries are read, finalists selected, a winner chosen.

Publishers and agents attend the Novel Fair and are pitched to. Contemporary, intriguing storylines, colourful characters, unusual plotlines, whatever it is that gives a successful novel the x factor soon comes to light.

To date, publishers and agents who’ve attended the fair include Penguin Random House Ireland, Hachette Ireland, New Island, O’Brien Press, Brandon, Lilliput Press, Tramp Press, The Book Bureau, John Murray, Tinder Press, Marianne Gunn O’Connor Agency, Feldstein Agency and Author Rights Agency as well as New York based agent Regal Hoffmann & Associates. As would be expected, a number of successful novelists have emerged: Janet E. Cameron (Cinnamon Toast, Hachette), Niamh Boyce (The Herbalist, Penguin Ireland), Alan Timmons’ (Here In No Place, Legend Press) and a host of others.

Two successful entries in the Novel Fair are among my picks here, both from Poolbeg Press. Eat the Moon by Breda Joy was a finalist in 2016 while A Soldier’s Wife by Marion Reynolds was the winning novel of 2013. But all finalists are winners as they avoid the slushpile, every writer’s worst nightmare. As with all Poolbeg books, presentation is to a very high standard, lovely covers, books that any reader would like to have on the bookshelf.

Breda Joy’s debut earns her high praise from much loved author Alice Taylor, describing

the novel as ‘A blend of family, community and love of a horse paints a picture of an Ireland that could only be created by someone who knows her people.’ The narrative in Eat the Moon takes place during the summer of 1969, set against the backdrop of the Apollo moon landing, a giant step for mankind but an event which doesn’t help one of the man characters Tamara, arriving from London and trying to adjust to the ‘alien world of a Cork farm.’ As with all fine writing, the novel holds the reader from beginning to end, ultimately revealing the bonds of family, the wisdom of age and the passionate loyalty of youth.

But Breda is no stranger to praise, the Kerry born writer has already published three non-fiction books with Mercier Press and was short-listed for the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition (2011)and a winner in the inaugural Trócaire/Poetry Ireland Award (2012).

In 2011 also she completed an M.Phil in Creative Writing at The Oscar Wilde House, The School of English, Trinity College, Dublin. Working as a journalist with Kerry’s Eye and The Kerryman newspapers, she is a regular contributor to Radio Kerry and features on RTE radio and television occasionally.

“I have served a long apprenticeship as a writer, always fitting my creative writing in between my ‘day job’ as a regular journalist.”

Her philosophy on life is simple – “what you give with one hand, you get back with the other.

I don’t believe in holding grudges because resentment is corrosive”.

An intimate portrait of a young mother A Soldier’s Wife is described as being ‘An intimate portrait of a young mother as she attempts to navigate the political and social complexities of early 20th century Dublin. Full of social and historical detail – but always warmly human’ (author Catherine Dunne). The blurb continues: ‘Ellen, romantic and naïve, falls in love with James, an Irishman serving in the

54 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

British Army. He is posted to India and this, for her, is a dream come true. After seven years of heartache and joy, and a lifestyle which is leisurely and luxurious, they return to Ireland and James is demobbed.’ On the return to Ireland, a different life awaits, one filled with political and civil unrest and beset with poverty. When World War 1 is declared, James re-enlists. Ellen is left to bring up her children alone, in a city which views the wives of British soldiers with suspicion.

Marion Reynolds first got the seeds of the idea for the book from a persistent fascination with a photograph in her grandmother’s house.

Marion Reynolds first got the seeds of the idea for the book from a persistent fascination with a photograph in her grandmother’s house.

“It was a large photograph in an ornate frame of an elegant woman in a beautiful dress with her hair upswept in the Edwardian style. Beside her, a dashing man in military uniform with a curled moustache. Between them was a baby in a lace dress and beside her, another man in uniform” This man and woman were Marion’s grandparents, living in an ordinary house in Dublin. Her grandfather told her that he once went to visit a friend in Athlone where they both proceeded to get drunk and join the Connaught Rangers Regiment of the British Army.

He then served seven years in India before returning to Ireland and meeting her grandmother. ‘Once, I found a shred of luminous silk in a beautiful kingfisher colour at the back of the wardrobe which my grandmother said had been part of a ball gown when they lived in India.’

Muriel Bolger (also a successful novelist) describes A Soldier’s Wife as ‘An epic tale of a wide spectrum. It brought Dublin of that period to life’.

Marion always had an interest in history and

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Creative Writing again, through her fascination with her maternal grandparents’ lives, began to enjoy the research side of historical fiction. A teacher and lecturer all her working life, there wasn’t much time for writing. ‘A novel requires dedication and time. I took early retirement from teaching and decided to concentrate on writing my novel.’ Marion already had a broad outline of A Soldier’s Wife in her head but it was getting that Eureka moment that brought the outline, finally, to the page. “I had a vision of the British Army lowering the Union Jack and leaving a military barracks and the Irish Army taking over and raising the Tricolour.”

Already working on the sequel, Marion is not precious about having a writing space. ‘I have been known to write in strange places when inspired. I wrote one of my best short stories at the airport while waiting for a flight. I try to write five days a week, in the morning mostly, and I set myself a weekly word target. Sometimes I meet it, sometimes I exceed it but if the sun shines, I am tempted to walk on the beach with my husband or do some gardening.’

Poolbeg younger readers titles Younger readers are also catered for by Poolbeg’s extensive catalogue. Cromwell – The Most Hated Man in Irish History by Rod Smith is proving very popular. Although voted the tenth greatest Briton in British history in a BBC poll in 2002, Cromwell has proved to be a very divisive figure in history, with some people viewing him as a hero and others as a villain.

Rod Smith’s book focuses on Cromwell’s time in Ireland between 1649 and 1650 and tries to show the huge impact he had on the island and its people in such a short period of time. All of the historical facts in this book are based on sound historical evidence as much as possible.

Naturally, a level of artistic licence has been used in order to further the story and keep the interest of the younger reader.

Rod is an experienced writer and can claim credit for writing seven of the bestselling In a Nutshell series. Born in Drogheda, he grew up listening to the many stories of the monstrous character that was Cromwell. He now lives in Malahide with his family. This book provides a snapshot but it’s hoped it will encourage the younger reader to find out more about this individual and help them come to their own conclusions about the man.

With regard to the writing process, Rod uses the old fashioned pen and paper approach to draw up a framework for any historical novels.

‘I put together a rough mind map with important dates and events to help to guide me chronologically’. Good practice. ‘I use the old fashioned pen and paper approach to draw up a framework for my historical novels’. He is a late at night writer, when the family go to bed (10pm – 3 am typically). ‘The house is quiet and there

are no interruptions! I drink lots of tea to keep me going!”’ The granddad is Rod’s book is based on his own grandfather, Michael, proving that the older generation still has magic. Family and friends are important, Rod’s father and sister both died at a young age, tragic events which have tempered his philosophy on life in general. ‘Family and friends, in that order. Hug them every day, no matter how old they are.’

dence and told her many vivid stories about burying guns in Ringsend Park and acting as a lookout for rebels. Her maternal grandmother was also a ‘captivating storyteller’.

Her grandmother, known to everyone as Granny Carey, owned a little huckster’s shop in Whiskey Row in Ringsend, down near the docks of the Dodder River. They sold small parcels of goods to the poor – little bags of tea and sugar for example, in twists of brown paper.

Patricia believes she is ‘a real champion for the bond between generations. There is often a very pure love between grandparents, great-aunts and uncles and children. The older generation are rich in stories and experiences and passing that on to the next generation is a usually valuable link in the chain of our human story.’ Interestingly, Patricia is an advocate for ‘reverse mentoring’ whereby older people can learn from those younger than themselves.

Bestselling author Patricia Murphy’s Leo’s War is another intriguing read, based on the real life exploits of the courageous Irish priest known as ‘The Vatican Pimpernel’, in World War II (Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty). O’Flaherty, the Irish Oscar Schindler, is reputed to have saved over 6,500 lives during the German occupation in Rome during the Second World War. Patricia Murphy uses the lens of a twelveyear-old boy to tell the dramatic rollercoaster of extraordinary human courage. Leo’s War has garnered very positive reviews for the equally popular Molly’s Diary author. The Quiet Knitter (Award winning Blogger) says: ‘Absolutely cannot recommend this book highly enoughThe writing is fantastic, the pace of the story is such that no matter how many times you say ‘just one more chapter’, you will end up racing through the book eager to see what happens next’.

Patricia Murphy became intrigued by Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty and ‘the more I learned about him, the more I admired him. He is a role model for our time – courageous, ingenious and ecumenical. Time after time he put his own life on the line for British, American and Russian prisoners of war, Italian partisans and persecuted Jews. His compassion reached across borders and divisions. His humanity transcends categories.’ Leo’s War is undoubtedly a book for all ages but, importantly, it ‘doesn’t patronise the intelligence of her youthful target readership (9 – 12 years)’– Sunday Independent.

Patricia now lives in Oxford with her husband and young daughter but she grew up in Dublin and is a graduate in English and history from Trinity College, Dublin and of journalism at Dublin City University. She feels privileged to have the opportunity to write historical novels for children as it ‘combines so many of my interests and my experiences.’ Patricia inherited her interest in history literally ‘at the knees of my grandparents’. Her grandfather was in the Fianna Boy Scouts in the War of Indepen-

56 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

Patricia feels lucky to live in Oxford, the home of children’s writing, the place where Lewis Carroll, C.S. Lewis and Tolkien lived and worked. ‘I feel blessed to breathe the air here and walking the streets, meadows and waterways is inspiration in itself.’

Three copies of each of these Poolbeg children’s titles to be won

To enter, answer this question: In which county was writer Breda Joy born?

Send your entries to: Senior Times Childrens Books Competition, Unit 1, 15 Oxford Lane, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.

Or email to john@slp.ie The first correct answers drawn are the winners.

Deadline for receipt of entries is 25th November A Soldier’s Wife retails at €9.99, Eat the Moon, €14.99 Leo’s War, €8.99, Cromwell – The Most Hated Man in Irish History, €8.99 For further information, please contact Poolbeg Press on 01-8063825 or email caroline@poolbeg.com

transport for all

Mobility Scooter Permit To travel on Dublin Bus with your mobility scooter you must have a permit. This is because some mobility scooters are too big to fit on Dublin Bus buses.

To find out if your scooter is the correct size, contact our travel assistant, who will check your scooter to see if it will fit on to the bus. They will also give you some helpful tips on bus travel.

To contact the travel assistant email travelassist@dublinbus.ie Phone 01 7033204

Health

Vaccination is the only protection Influenza (flu) is a highly infectious acute respiratory illness caused by the flu virus. Flu affects people of all ages, with outbreaks occurring almost every year. Flu symptoms come on suddenly with a fever, muscle aches, headache and fatigue. Most people recover from flu in 2-7 days. This is different from a cold which is a much less severe illness compared to flu. A cold usually starts gradually with a sore throat and a blocked or runny nose. Symptoms of a cold are generally mild compared to flu.

In some instances, flu can be severe and can cause serious illness and death. Serious breathing complications can develop, including pneumonia and bronchitis, to which older people and those with certain chronic medical conditions are particularly susceptible. Some people may need hospital treatment and a number of people die from flu each winter.

Flu is spread by coughing and sneezing. Anyone with flu can be infectious from 1 day before to 3-5 days after onset of symptoms. This means that you can pass on flu or the flu virus to somebody even before you know that you are sick.

Each year the seasonal (annual) flu vaccine contains three common flu virus strains. The flu virus changes each year this is why a new flu vaccine has to be given each year. This year’s flu vaccine contains the Swine Flu strain which is likely to be one of the common strains causing flu this winter.

The best way to prevent flu is to get the flu vaccine. The vaccine is recommended for all those 65 years of age and over

Pneumococcal vaccine If you are over 65 or have a long term medical condition you should also ask your doctor about the pneumococcal vaccine which protects against pneumonia, if you have not previously received it. You can get the flu vaccine at the same time as your pneumococcal vaccine.

Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) is recommended for those aged 65 years and older and those over 2 years with long term medical conditions. This vaccine protects against 23 types of pneumococcal disease including those most likely to cause severe disease.

Pneumococcal disease is a bacterial infection. The bacteria that cause pneumococcal disease live in the nose and throat.

A person who carries the bacteria can spread the disease by coughing, sneezing or even breathing.

Pneumococcal disease can cause serious illness including Pneumonia, Meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain) or Septicaemia (blood poisoning).

You only need to get pneumococcal vaccine ONCE after you reach 65. If you received your first dose of this vaccine before you reached 65 years of age you should receive a second dose at least 5 years after the first dose.

If you are under 65 you may need a second dose if

those with long term medical conditions e.g. heart or lung disease

You have no spleen or your spleen is not working properly,

all frontline healthcare workers including carers

You have a medical condition causing a weakened immune system.

Vaccination should ideally be undertaken in late September or October each year. Flu vaccines have been used for more than 60 years worldwide and are very safe. Flu vaccine contains killed or inactivated viruses and therefore cannot cause flu. It does, however, take 10-14 days for the vaccine to start protecting you against flu. The vaccine and consultation are free to those within the recommended groups who have a ‘Medical Card’ or ‘GP Visit Card’.

GPs charge a consultation fee for seasonal flu vaccine to those who do not have a ‘Medical Card’ or ‘GP Visit Card’.

More information is available GP, Public Health Nurse or pharmacist. www.immunisation.ie provides details about flu vaccination, along with answers to any questions you may have about flu.

You cannot get pneumococcal disease from the vaccine as it does not contain live bacteria.

You can get the flu vaccine at the same time as your pneumococcal vaccine.

The vaccine and consultation are free to those within the recommended groups who have a ‘Medical Card’ or ‘GP Visit Card’. GPs charge a consultation fee for seasonal flu vaccine to those who do not have a ‘Medical Card’ or ‘GP Visit Card’.

More information is available from your GP or Public Health Nurse. www.immunisation.ie provides details about flu vaccination, along with answers to any questions you may have.

Facts about flu.

Flu causes death and hospitalisation every year.

Flu vaccine is the best protection against flu for at risk groups and health care workers.

You need to get flu vaccine every season as the viruses change every year.

Flu vaccine contains killed viruses - it cannot give you flu.

Healthcare workers are up to 10 times more likely to get flu.

Healthy people can have flu without any obvious symptoms and pass it on.

FLU VACCINE IS A LIFESAVER. GET YOUR FLU VACCINE NOW.

www.hse.ie/flu Order code HNI01089

Finance

Approaching retirement If an individual taxpayer close to retirement has ready cash available for investing and the benefits they are about to access are less than the maximum permissible by revenue i.e. 66.6% of final salary (without a tax free lump sum), then such an individual can place 35% of their earnings (net relevant), for the over 55s and 40% for the over 60s into a Pension and obtain tax relief in the process subject to an overall maximum investment of €115,000 in any given year. Companies can pour huge amounts into Pension Funds, usually in the five and six figures for Directors or Staff and obtain savings on Corporation in doing so.

Vital options before retirement.

At Retirement, the individual in the vast majority of cases (apart from Civil and Public Servants and those in Pension Schemes that pay a percentage of final Salary), will have options as follows: (a) Whether or not to take the maximum Tax Free lump Sum from their Pension Pot, given that the words Tax Free are mentioned, the vast majority of people who are given this option avail of it. In a very small number of cases usually where people are already receiving Pension Benefits, this option (from their 2nd Pension), may not apply.

Pension Options. (b) The option to avail of a Pension for Life or opt to exchange this income for Life to a Cash Fund, taken as required over the short /medium or long term is available.

Annuity Option • Income for Life also known as an annuity has the advantage of been paid a guaranteed income for as long as the annuitant lives and indeed if the annuitant so decides, as long as their Spouse / Civil Partner lives following the Annuitant’s death. Note the Insurance Company arranging the Annuity will reduce the monthly income to the Annuitant in the event of the option to provide for the dependant after the Annuitant’s death. The advantage of Annuities is that the Annuitant knows exactly what Pension that they will be in receipt of for the rest of their lives / dependant’s life. The disadvantage is that incomes generated by annuities tend to be small and in the event of early death, the Capital Sum available for income to the Annuitant and or their dependant will never be realised.

60 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

ARF Option • Placing the Capital Sum that the Pension Investment has realised when it has matured into a Fund that the Revenue Commissioners have approved known as an Approved Retirement Fund or ‘ARF’. In Order for the Revenue Commissioners to allow the Individual apply for an ARF, the individual must tick the following box.

Have a guaranteed income for life of at least €12,700. Note anyone in receipt of a full Old Age Pension comes into this category.

They must have a guaranteed income for Life of €300 per annum.

• If they don’t qualify for the above they must set aside €63,500 from their Pension Fund to be placed into an AMRF, a fund that cannot be accessed until the age of 75, accept for a 4% annual dividend from its balance.

The advantage of opting to take the ARF route is that the individual has control over the Maturity Value of their Pension Savings and they can access it as required over some or all of their Lifetime in the most Tax efficient manner possible (bearing in mind that at 65, the individual without a dependant spouse / civil partner obtains an annual Tax Credit of €18,000 and a couple €36,000. Also any money in the ARF on death forms part of the deceased’s Estate and unlike annuities it does not die with the Annuitant / Annuitant and Dependant. The Inheritance Tax arrangements in the vast majority of cases (children over 21) other than Spouses / Civil Partners (who are Tax exempt) is 30% Income Tax and Zero Inheritance Tax. An individual with or without a spouse/civil partner, with succession of assets in mind can apply to a Life Assurance company for a Section 72 Life Assurance policy which is exempt from Inheritance Tax and therefore can cover any inheritance bill that may arise on the death of the individual or usually the 2nd death of the couplet.

Disadvantages • As an ARF can be accessed as required, there is no guarantee that it will provide for an Individual and his / her dependant(s) for life. Therefore this route is not for someone who has difficulty managing money in particular if they intend living well into Old Age. • When opting for an ARF, on Retirement Day, the Capital Sum is invested in an investment Fund which can rise and fall during the course of its lifetime and therefore can be vulnerable to fluctuating as markets rise and fall. These fluctuations apply to the vast majority of funds even though the more cautious variety tend to be less volatile than Medium Risk Funds. High Risk Funds while available to ARF Holders, are not advisable at the senior’s stage in Life unless the investor is either very well-heeled or Professional Investors.

Finally those approaching retirement should give their options a lot of thought and seek out professional advice before taking the final step.

Mick Martin [Principal Royal Irish Insurance] Lo Call: 0818227051 Mobile: 087/2434698 No. 12 Unit 42 Rosemount Business Park, Dublin 11 Qualified Financial Advisor Retirement Planning Advisor Fellow of the Life Insurance Association.

Leaving A Legacy

Have you considered when making your will to leave a legacy gift to a cause you care about?

Everyone should have a will Only three in ten Irish adults have made a will, yet making a will is one of the most important decisions that you will ever make. As a legal document, it ensures that proper arrangements are made for family and friends, and that your assets will distributed in the way you wish after you die, subject to certain rights and conditions. With so many benefits associated with this important process, the decision to make a will should be straightforward.

If your wishes are not expressed in a will, then the law (called Succession Law) determines how your estate is distributed according to strict legal rules. It can also mean that your estate might not be divided in accordance with your wishes.

I hope that, one day, my grandchildren will ask,

“What WAS cancer?�

You can help make cancer a thing of the past by leaving a gift to the Irish Cancer Society in your Will.

Irish Cancer Society

Contact Aoife McDarby at 01-2316629, email amcdarby@irishcancer.ie or speak to your solicitor.

Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 61 www.cancer.ie/legacy

Leaving A Legacy Why make a will?

There are a number of important reasons why a person should make a will but the most important reason is that you decide what happens to your estate when you are gone. Your will should be prepared by a solicitor who will advise you of the tax and legal implications of your decisions and who will use your outlined instructions to draft your will. Before making an appointment with your solicitor, it is helpful to take note of the following:

Steps to Making a Will

Your assets, their value and their location.

Your nearest relatives.

Your executor(s) – this is the person(s) that will administer the estate in accordance with the directions set out in the will. This person should be someone that you trust and who is responsible.

The proposed division of your estate – which refers to all of the money, property, assets, interests and things of value controlled by a person while alive.

1. Make An Appointment

Your solicitor can then take you through any legal restrictions (if applicable), special circumstances, inheritance tax and types of will.

Why a will is important.

· · · ·

It is usually a much more straightforward and cost effective process than you might think and your solicitor will discuss what is necessary for drawing up this important personal document when you make your appointment.

Once family and friends have been looked after and all other important personal decisions have been made, deciding to leave a legacy gift to a charity is a wonderful way to support a favourite cause in the future. Large or small, every legacy is a generous gift of hope and trust for the future.

Avail of expert advice and support.

Take the first step to discuss your wishes and decisions for the future 2. Look After Loved Ones First

A will provides for loved ones, assigns guardians, protects your assets and helps reduce inheritance tax 3. Consider A Legacy To Charity Your gift may be big or small and is tax free.

If you have a cause close to your heart, please consider leaving a gift to that charity in your will

When you write a will, you can look after your family and loved ones even after you’re gone. And if you also include The Irish Hospice Foundation, you can reach out to another family you’ve never met too.

Help us realise our vision that no-one will face death or bereavement without the care and support they need.

: Contact Clare Martin at 01 679 3188 or clare.martin@hospicefoundation.ie www.hospicefoundation.ie

You can help create a brighter future for Ireland’s sickest children.

By leaving a gift in your will to CMRF Crumlin.

By leaving a legacy in your will to CMRF Crumlin you can help ensure sick children receive the best care, and access to the latest treatments and potential cures.

You will be supporting Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin and the National Children’s Research Centre. But more importantly you will be helping to save and improve the lives of children for generations to come.

Every sick child deserves every chance. www.cmrf.org

When writing your will, your family and loved ones come first. But perhaps you would also consider leaving a lasting legacy to CMRF Crumlin that will provide life-saving treatment to children in the future.

For further information call Gráinne on 01 7091726 or email gkennedy@cmrf.org

Charity Number: CHY4483A

Leaving A Legacy

A Legacy Story from CMRF Crumlin Have you ever thought of leaving a gift to a charity in your Will? Once you’ve looked after your family and loved ones you may think about leaving a gift to a worthy cause. What better way to add to your legacy than by supporting sick children all over Ireland. At CMRF Crumlin our priority is give sick children the best possible care and the best possible outcomes. Through supporting vital research and championing patient experience we are making this a reality, but with your support we can do so much more. You too can be part of something truly great. Through supporting sick children you can be part of a brighter future.

Leaving a lasting legacy

Long-term donor Brendan McGonnell was born in 1944 in Dublin and was a pupil of CBS Synge Street. He had an inventive mind and was renowned for his sense of humour and his most excellent imitation of Elvis songs will fondly be remembered by his siblings and many friends. His kindness and thoughtfulness for sick children and the disadvantaged of our society perhaps characterised him most throughout his life. At 69 years he left this world, however, he also left a very significant gift to help those sick children and the disadvantaged that were always on his mind. May Brendan rest in peace.

Brendan McGonnell legacy to support finding cures for childhood cancers

Less Restrictions, More Impact

Where donors place no restriction on how CMRF Crumlin allocates funds, gifts can be put to use quickly in the areas of greatest need with the greatest promise of impact for sick children.

We thank you for trusting us to make the greatest impact for children.

You can help ensure brighter days for sick children

At our core is the belief that every sick child deserves every chance. We want little patients to have the best possible outcomes through access to world class research, equipment and treatments when they become ill.

We can only do this with your help. You can help change, and even save the future for children who face serious illness, by leaving a gift in your Will to CMRF Crumlin. After you’ve looked after your family, you may consider remembering CMRF Crumlin with a lasting gift.

Please call Siobhan on 01-7091743 or email sbroughan@cmrf.org to talk about how a gift in your Will can help a sick child in the future.

About Us

Child and young adolescent haematological cancers account for approximately 40% of all cancers in children up to the age of 16. The CMRF in partnership with the National Children’s Research Centre and University College Dublin will appoint a Professor of Paediatric Molecular Haemato-Oncology, with the ultimate goal of curing every child and adolescent with a blood cancer allowing them to lead happy, productive lives. This is an innovative partnership, made possible by a wonderful and lasting legacy for sick children from the late Brendan McGonnell.

CMRF Crumlin (the Children’s Medical Research Foundation) was established in 1965 and is the principal fundraising body for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin and The National Children’s Research Centre. We drive fundraising to allow for research into the cause, treatment, care and prevention of children’s illness and disease and to actively support excellence in the care and treatment of sick children by providing additional equipment, facilities and assistance to patients and their families within Children’s Hospital at Crumlin. To find out more visit our website at www.cmrf.org

CMRF would like to thank all donors who have pledged to leave a lasting legacy by including CMRF in their Wills for sick children.

CMRF Crumlin, 14-18 Drimnagh Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12 Tel: 01 709 1700

Write Self Help Africa into your will and Give them a Future

Call Louise on 01 677 8880

or visit our website www.selfhelpafrica.org/ie/legacy

Registered Charity: CHY 4483A CRA No. 20005849

Leave a Legacy of Hope When you are making your Will, please remember the vulnerable families you can save from homelessness.

Contact Cora at Threshold in strictest confidence.

Call: 01 635 3607 Email: Cora@threshold.ie Visit: www.threshold.ie

Legacies

Working through agriculture & enterprise development to end hunger and poverty.

A home is like a passport for life Marking Threshold’s 40th year, Chief Executive, John-Mark McCafferty, explores the fundamental meanings of home.

I find it impossible to capture in words the terrifying and crushing feeling when someone receives a phone call, a letter or a legal document that tells them they are on the brink of losing their home. Can you imagine it? In that moment, most of the certainties in your life fall away.

Our home provides lifesaving shelter, warmth and protection, but it is also the foundation for the rest of our lives too, for our children and families. It gives everything else meaning.

A home, an address, is like a passport to life. Everything you do is directly connected to your secure sense of home. When that is taken away, your centre disappears. That’s a horrifying feeling.

Our home, whether public, rented or private is a kind of sacred space.

A gathering place. A place for everyday rituals. It’s where our children play, and learn and grow. Where relationships strengthen and blossom.

Where births, achievements, graduations, losses, comings of age, are framed and remembered.

Self Help Africa helps rural poor farmers grow more, source markets, and earn more from their small farms. By promoting new crop varieties and new farming methods, the organisation helps hundreds of thousands of poor families to produce more and better food on their land.

When home is lost, our own sense of humanity, worth and identity hangs in the balance. Without a home, it’s so hard to feel human or prove to the world you’re from somewhere; that you have an identity; that you are worth something.

Ireland's longest established international development organisation, Self Help Africa applies a 'hand up', not a 'hand out' approach, and provides training and skills to African farming families so that they can work their way out of poverty, permanently.

That’s why preventing homelessness and saving people’s homes is so fundamental and so critical.

Every day, Threshold saves 9 families from homelessness through our vital frontline services.

That's close to 200 families every month we help to keep their homes.

We simply couldn’t do this vital work without the public’s support.

And as Threshold celebrates our 40th Anniversary, we are committed to continuing our fight against homelessness. We’ll continue to save homes, one family at a time.

Self Help Africa organisers small-scale farmers into producer groups and cooperatives, so that they can improve storage, access transport, source new markets and negotiate better prices for their produce. The organisation targets many of its activities at African women, who do much of the work, yet frequently receive only a fraction of the support that is available.

In 2018 Self Help Africa is working with more than 315,000 households across ten different countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

To find out more, visit: www.selfhelpafrica.org, or contact (01) 6778880 for more information.

Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 65

Leaving A Legacy

Volunteering At Enable Ireland Enable Ireland’s 21 charity shops nationwide generate funds to support services for over 7,500 children and adults with disabilities and are always seeking new volunteers to get involved with their work. The charity would love to hear from people who are retired, or simply seeking to embark on a new experience or meet new people within their local community.

Enable Ireland’s Commercial Manager Oonagh O’Connor says, “Volunteering offers so much. As well as the practical training we give in all aspects of retail, our volunteers have told us that the boost in their confidence or the social interaction can be the biggest asset of all. We see such a range of people coming in to uslots of recently retired people who want a new challenge, or people who just want to get involved in their local community and get out there to socialise and make new friends.

“The minimum commitment we ask for is just three hours a week, and we are committed to providing genuine and meaningful placements, where people can learn new skills and meet new people.

100% of our profits from Enable Ireland charity shops support our services for people with disabilities, so volunteering at a shop can make a real difference.”

Maureen Chapple has been a volunteer at Enable Ireland in Galway for ten years.

Maureen first heard about the charity and its work through her son, and when she saw an advert looking for volunteers in the Galway shop she decided to get in touch.

“Along I went and the rest is history!

Over the years I have made many friends though working in the shop. I know about their children and now their grandchildren and they know about mine. I don’t want it to sound like we stand around chatting, but a friendly word here and there makes such a difference! I notice that people can be lonely and I may be the first person they have spoken to that day. I think when there is a friendly atmosphere in the shop people are likely to return. Being a volunteer is so rewarding. The friendly atmosphere from the manager and staff has kept me in the Galway Shop all these years. Overall I know that I am appreciated and the time I give is valued so much.”

If you would like to find out more, you can email hello@enableireland.ie or call 01 872 7155.

You can also support Enable Ireland by donating good quality men's, women's and children's second-hand clothing and shoes, as well as high-quality accessories and homeware to your nearest shop.

66 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

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Life & Pensions One Park Place, Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Phone (01) 898 7950 Fax (01) 898 7329 www.aviva.ie Telephone calls may be recorded for quality assurance purposes.

Volunteer at an Enable Ireland charity shop!

Enable Ireland are seeking volunteers for our 21 charity shops.

Give as little as 3 hours per week and help us to support our services for people with disabilities!

Email hello@enableireland.ie or call 087 6636781 to find out more.

Donate Goods You can also support us by donating good quality second-hand clothing and shoes, accessories and homeware.

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www.enableireland.ie

Northern

By Debbie Orme

Notes

Is homeopathy becoming mainstreamdrop by drop?

Homeopathy is a subject which has divided healthcare professionals for years, but in Northern Ireland, there is an increasing number of healthcare professional, who are leading the way in integrating it into primary care.

Homeopathy has already been integrated into the healthcare systems of many European countries, including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland and Portugal, In the States, meanwhile, research carried out by market research analyst Mintel found that retail sales of homeopathic and herbal remedies had grown by 16 per cent over the previous five years.

Eoghan O’Brien

Dr Gary J Smyth

In India, meanwhile, homeopathy is the third most popular medical treatment, with more than 200,000 homeopathic doctors currently registered and a further 12,000 added every year.

‘I think a lot of it is down to patients becoming disenchanted with conventional treatments. An increasing number of people are looking for treatments that are natural and which help to speed up the recovery process, and when you look at research that says, for example, that paracetamol reduces pain AND empathy, and that it is a factor in the prevalence of ADHD if taken during pregnancy, is it any wonder that people are looking for alternatives?’

Despite the statistics however, many healthcare professionals are dubious about the practice, with many pointing to a lack of clinical evidence.

Award-winning Portglenone pharmacist, Eoghan O’Brien, is very much in favour of homeopathy. Indeed, Eoghan is the proud recipient of a DFHom Diploma from the Faculty of Homeopathy.

Eoghan and his colleagues are fervent believers in homeopathy but, in a survey carried out last year by Canadian pharmacy trade magazine, Pharmacy Practice, researchers found that around 50 per cent of pharmacists believed homeopathy to be a placebo, but believed that it may still have a place in therapy.

‘I believe – as many others do,’ Eoghan told Northern Notes that, while homeopathy has its limitations, it does act as ‘another tool in the box’ to treat conditions that haven’t reacted to conventional medicine.

Eoghan’s views as a pharmacist are echoed by Dr Gary J Smyth, who is both a GP and a homeopathic physician.

‘I think homeopathy is a matter of needing to use our level of competence to assess if a particular treatment is useful. Recently, for example, a lady came into the pharmacy with toothache. She said, however, that she wanted something stronger than ibuprofen or cocodamol. I asked her various questions about her toothache and then suggested belladonna. She was initially sceptical as she had never considered homeopathy and she thought it wouldn’t be strong enough. A short time later, she came back to tell me that the pain had gone. Where conventional medicine had failed, homeopathy helped.

‘I’ve also treated a man, who had been traumatised by a car accident, with aconite. After only a few doses he was much more grounded.

‘I’m keen to be as qualified as I can be in this area because I often get patients referred to me by other pharmacists, and so I want to be properly prepared. I do think more and more pharmacists are becoming interested in this type of therapy.

‘Although many people think that there’s no clinical evidence, I believe that there is a reasonable evidence base and a lot of research is current underway.

‘The conventional training and thought practices behind homeopathy are very different to that of evidence-based medicine – particularly in terms of the practitioner’s experience, the patient and the clinical basis.

But you can see how much it’s growing in the public consciousness.

Take arnica, for example. It’s now become very mainstream and is widely used.

70 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

‘Homeopathy is a non-additive, non-toxic, inexpensive treatment option that is hugely popular with patients and is effective for a wide range of different conditions,’ he told Northern Notes. ‘The safety profile of homeopathic medicines is well established and, when used by healthcare professionals, within the bounds of their own competence and training, homeopathy provides a valuable additional therapeutic option.

Homeopathy takes an individualised and whole person approach and when these benefits are considered together, it is easy to see why an increasing number of pharmacists are now undertaking additional training in homeopathy. Many are now establishing themselves as pharmacists with a special interest and some are also linking up with like-minded GPs to offer unique and highly valued services to their local communities.

‘Large-scale observational studies have repeatedly been strongly positive, with consistently high patient reported outcome measurements.

Underlying all of this are hundreds of thousands of case reports from 200 years of clinical practice, including 68 years within the NHS. At every level of the ‘evidence hierarchy’, there is positive evidence in favour of homeopathic medicine.

‘However, we know that many patients – particularly those with longterm, chronic conditions – do not fit easily into the boxes which are employed by conventional and quantitative research approaches. They live outside the box: they describe a unique narrative, a unique experience, a unique story. Homeopathy is one way of understanding patients in a more holistic and whole-person way. It is one way of connecting the dots of people’s experiences and allows for additional treatment options to be considered.’

Northern Notes

Belfast shines the spotlight on its older volunteers

Local volunteers’ Maureen Loughlin and Ann Teague with Ligoniel Community Centre after-school club members’ Nathan and Clara

Nominations are now open for the annual Age-friendly Belfast Older Volunteer awards, which are supported by Volunteer Now. The awards honour the considerable contribution and positive impact people, aged 60 and over, make to groups, organisations and communities in Belfast.

Highlighting the broad variations in volunteering, there are five categories to choose from - the Older Volunteer of the Year Award, Team/ Group Award, Good Neighbour Award, Make a Difference Award and the Marie Mathews Participation Award.

Alderman Sonia Copeland, Chair of Belfast City Council’s all party reference group on older people, launched the awards with two volunteers in the city, Ann Teague and Maureen Loughlin, who volunteer at the after-school club in Ligoniel Community Centre.

‘I’m delighted to launch this year’s Age-Friendly Belfast Older Volunteer Awards which celebrate the expertise, skills and knowledge that people over 60 bring to our city’s clubs, groups and organisations,’ Alderman Copeland said. ‘I’m also honoured to meet two very dedicated volunteers, Ann and Maureen, who have been volunteering at the after-school club in Ligoniel Community Centre for many years now.

“We made a commitment in The Belfast Agenda to ensure that every-

one experiences good health and wellbeing here and to making Belfast more connected, welcoming and inclusive for all. Our older volunteers are making a huge contribution to achieving these goals by fostering vital community connections. And it’s a two way street - volunteering is a really rewarding use of your time, especially in later life.

‘I get so much back from the time I spend volunteering with Action Cancer and Marie Curie. The feeling of pride and satisfaction you get from helping people because you care can be quite overwhelming at times. Giving thanks and recognition to volunteers is so important and I’m already looking forward to celebrating with our older volunteers at the awards ceremony in December.’

‘I’ve been volunteering at the after-school club in Ligoniel Community Centre after my daughter volunteered at the centre and then encouraged me to do so,’ added Maureen Loughlin. ‘It’s very rewarding and I do enjoy it.’

Full details on the 2018 Age-friendly Older Volunteer Awards are available at www.belfastcity.gov.uk/community/Volunteering/ oldervolunteerawards.aspx Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 71

Northern Notes

A room with a view If you ever fancy a bird’s eye view of County Down, why not take a wander up to Scrabo Tower? Situated on the Ards Peninsula, the tower stands an impressive 135 feet high and is perched on a site 540 feet above sea level, so, as you can imagine, the views are pretty impressive!

The tower was built in memory of General Charles William Stewart-Vane, KG, GCB, the third Marquess of Londonderry, who died in 1854 after very valiant service in the Peninsular War. (Scrabo Tower is actually called the Londonderry Monument). Once the decision to build the tower had been approved, the design was made into a competition, with architects asked to submit ideas. The cost of the tower was to be £2000 maximum, but, unfortunately, three of the four schemes submitted were a bit over-ambitious and were too costly. The fourth entry was submitted by Sir Charles Lanyon, who also designed Belfast City Hall.

The care of the tower remained in the hands of the McKay family for more than 100 years and, in 1966, the Millin sisters, who handed back the keys to the Londonderry Estate, were the grandchildren of the first tenant. Today, just as in the Millins’ time, Scrabo Tower is home to a popular tearoom and provides a fantastic ‘window to the world’.

Memorial Service held at ‘Paupers’ Graves’ in Ballymoney A poignant service has taken place in Ballymoney Cemetery to remember those laid to rest in the town’s ‘Paupers’ Graves’. A new memorial headstone now marks the plot, over 100 years since it was first used to bury those who died in tragic and unfortunate circumstances.

Council records show that more than 200 people, who could not meet funeral costs, were buried in the plot between 1891 and 1919.

The cross-community event was organised by James McMullan & Son Funeral Directors, who put the headstone in place, in conjunction with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. The service included prayers, readings and an Act of Remembrance from representatives of churches in the town while local historian Keith Beattie reflected on the history of the site. ‘It was important for people to come together,’ said Councillor Brenda Chivers, the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, ‘to show that these lives mattered and the new memorial will serve as a permanent reminder of this. I would like to thank the Funeral Directors for their interest and input which will now ensure that these graves are marked in a suitably dignified way.”

‘These plots have always intrigued me,’ added Andrew McMullan of James McMullan & Son, ‘and I am content that these individuals are now being recognised and remembered as part of our town’s history.’

72 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

This Christmas former X-Factor contestant Mary Byrne has a hectic gig schedule as well as appearing in a pantomime.

Thanks to Flexiseq she’s able to stay active and keep moving from rehearsal to rehearsal throughout the festive period, and she can’t wait.

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Wine World

Celebrity wines appeal Mairead Robinson enjoys the sparkle and twinkle of Graham Norton’s range of wines

Graham Norton blending his wines

Invivo Te Kauwhata Winery

Over the last decade or two there have been quite a number of celebrities lending their names to certain wine ranges, and this endorsement has led to an increase in the perception of the wine quality and therefore a resulting rise in sales. Celebrity endorsement is nothing new, it happens in clothing, make-up, cars, sport – indeed even in coffee machines!

However, when it gets interesting is when the celebrity in question actually knows, likes and uses the product in question. When it comes to top guest show host and author, Graham Norton, he makes no secret of his love of wine and sips away on his favourite tipple while interviewing a never ending couch full of real A-List stars season after season on his popular programme. Like many people, I have been a fan for years, and never miss an episode of his lively cheeky show which is far superior to all the other more stilted chat shows, and the fact that he can get the top stars to come along for a chat is proof of his credibility.

And so to his love of wine. You have probably come across his GN wines in SuperValu, Centra and Tesco. Produced in red, white, rose and now sparkling, their popularity as quality wine has proved that they are not only about the name. However, what really interested me is that Graham Norton himself is actually the Chief Winemaker. The idea for GN wines came from a New Zealand company called Invivo – www.

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invivowines.com - which was set up in 2008 by former school friends Tim Lighthbourne and Rob Cameron. You can read more about Graham’s winemaking at this website, but when he began working with Invivio Wines he proved that he had not only the enthusiasm for the wine but also a keen palate. He is very clear about what he likes and what he looks for in his wines, and is currently working on the 2018 vintage.

His best known is Sauvignon Blanc – which is what we see Norton and some of his guests sipping away on during his chat shows – 2017 is now on the shelves and got his stamp of approval with the words ‘That’s it!

My perfect blend. And it’s lovely. Tropical fruit, a bit of zing .Cheers to that’. It is the recipient of numerous awards and is a very aromatic wine, lively and fruity with a lingering finish. At 12% it is restrained in its punch and powerful subtlety. It is available nationwide in SuperValue, Centra, Dunnes and Tesco priced at €15 but now on offer at €12 As most of the GN wines are now so widely available and also on special offer, I strongly recommend stocking up for the festive season. Either to bring as gifts to friends, serve at home, or keep for yourself!

And so to the red – GN Shiraz 2015 is another Gold Award winning wine, blended in Cork with grapes from different areas in South Australia to create ‘a wine that will bring a twinkle to your eye and warm you to the

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Wine World

tips of your toes’! This is a rich plumy spicy wine full of dark fruits and warm character with a rich 14.5% alcohol. Also on sale now fo r€12, the Shiraz is normally priced at €15 .

With a clever label, the Rose (Pink by desiGN) is a lovely New Zealand Pinot Noir with notes of raspberry and strawberry and will make a lovely sunny aperitif even in the depth of winter. Serve slightly chilled with nibbles, or a light lunch. Once again a bargain at €15 currently on offer at €12.

And finally to the bubbles – Graham Norton’s collection includes a Prosecco Frizzante which is new to the market and is crisp, light and sparkling and made with 100% Glera grapes from the Trevisso region - the home of Prosecco. Of course the Frizzante is a gently sparkling wine and for the fully sparkling wine, it is my favourite Spumante which really stands out. This is extra dry – a taste I share with Graham Norton as the frizzante is generally sweeter – and is a seriously good bottle of bubbles. This is certainly one that I would recommend for a celebrity special occasion. This is available in Tesco, recommended price is €17.99 and currently on offer for €16. Meanwhile the Frizzante is reduced from €12 to €10 and available in Centra and SuperValu.

So while our favourite chat-show host is back on our screens, and also has just published his new novel titled A Keeper, we can enjoy his exceptionally good wines while watching the television or reading his book!

Bad news from Down Under The exceptional weather we have had this year has had differing impacts on harvests around the world. Wine producers in New South Wales are worried about drought. The state is now in 100% drought with the second driest autumn conditions on record. Plans have already been put in place for the management of vine stress and irrigation for the 2019 harvest.

Good News for Bubbles The growth of the sparkling wine sector shows no sign of slowing down.

Prosecco, which can cost a third of the price of champagne, continues to grow in popularity. There has also been significant growth in sparkling wine from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile, Argentina and Spain, as well as from regions in France. This has been especially evident during our hot dry summer, and will continue as we heard towards the festive season.

76 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

Another gin competition!

The lucky winner of the Blackwater Strawberry gin last issue was Mary Morley from Louth. We have another great gin to promote this issue, and it is also from our friends at Blackwater Distillery – www.blackwaterdistillery.ie – this time it is the delicious No. 5.

Blackwater No.5 is a classic London Dry Gin, distilled from the purest spirit, the finest botanicals and soft local water. It balances the confident juniper notes of a traditional London Dry Gin with bright coriander, warm cinnamon and zesty lemon. Blackwater No. 5 is crisp and elegant, great as a G&T and excellent in a cocktail. If you would like to try this one, contact me at mairead.seniorbeauty@gmail.com and tell me the main botanical found in all gin.

Culture

Fit The indoor & outdoor activities supplement

Edited by Conor O’Hagan

Walking

Five Bracing Walks for Winter Walking is the best way of boosting health and fitness and Ireland is the best place in the world to do it, says Conor O’Hagan. He nominates five walks around the country to boost your intake of vitamin D

Millenium

As I write this, news has just come in of the latest meta-study (that’s a study of studies, as you know) revealing that vitamin D supplements aren’t worth the plastic they’re packed in when it comes to bone health. While I wouldn’t suggest you ditch the pills immediately - there’s bound to be another study out soon - I would certainly take pleasure in pointing out that the old way of boosting vitamin D intake remains the best and most enjoyable.

Millennium Stone Loop, Tipperary

Spending tine outdoors in whatever passes for sunshine is the time-honoured, enjoyable and essentially free way of boosting health, fitness and sanity. Walking is the best way of spending that time, and Ireland is the best place in the world to do it.

The Glen of Aherlow stretches from the N24 south of Tipperary Town through unspoilt countryside affording some of the most breathtaking scenery imaginable. The lush valley of the River Aherlow runs between the Galtee Mountains and the wooded ridge of Slievenamuck. Bounded by the picturesque villages of Galbally and Bansha, the Glen was historically an important pass between Limerick and Tipperary. There is a great variety of prehistoric, early Christian and medieval sites within the valley and its hinterland to excite the lovers of archaeology and the seasoned historian. The glen is renowned for the warmth of its welcome and the friendship of its people. This loop is one of a series developed at two trailheads in the glen (Christ the King Statue and Lisvarrinane). This loop travels along Slievenamuck – the Mountain of the Pigs. The ridge

Looped Walks are the best way of enjoying Ireland’s countryside and wilder places, adding a veneer of convenience to the fundamentally inconvenient but joyous business of exerting yourself in beautiful places.

Here are five of the best in the country; they’re not the easiest - all require at least an average level of fitness - but all are well worth the effort.

All of these require walking boots, raingear and common sense, so remember to bring them, along with a phone and fluids.

9km, moderate difficulty

Starting from Tipperary Town take the R664 following the signs for Glen of Aherlow. After approximately 6km you reach a substantial car park at a viewing point near the well-known statue of Christ the King. The trailhead is located at a mapboard in the green area below the car park.

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Walking

Millennium Stone

Altaroney River, Lough Aroher

is mainly of old red sandstone and was formed over 300million years ago! The Millenium Stone was erected to celebrate the new millennium, and was a joint project between the parishes of Tipperary and Bansha Kilmoyler. The conglomerate stone, weighing in at 13.5 tons, was dug out of a hillside nearby. A mix of stone, sand and ferrous oxide causes it to have a pink hue in the evening sun. Designed by renowned sculptor Jarlath Daly, the stone depicts the Annunciation, Birth, Crucifixion and Resurrection from the life of Christ.

From the mapboard in the green area climb onto the road and go to the Christ the King statue. Follow the blue arrow and enter the forestry at the barrier. Note that you are also following red arrows which are for the shorter Rock an Thorabh Loop. After 50m you reach a Y-junction where the red loop continues straight – but you veer right and downhill following the blue arrow.

Continue to follow the red arrows along this forestry track for almost 4km to reach a surfaced road where you turn left. Shortly afterwards you reach the Millennium Stone on your right.

After leaving the Millennium Stone travel for a short distance and watch Fine views of County Tipperary (and Tipperary Town) open up along this section of the loop. After nearly 3km you will rejoin the red loop at a junction and turn right.

Now you begin to ascend and near the highest point watch out for the substantial rock on your right – this is Rock an Thorabh (the rock of the boar!).

Continue to follow the blue (and red) arrows along the forestry roadway to reach a surfaced road near Stafford O Brien Well. Joining the road, turn left.

Cross the road and follow downhill for 500m to reach the left bend. Here you veer right onto a green track and into forestry again.

Following woodland trails, you will rejoin other loops as you return to the trailhead through the Nature Park – a very pleasant experience to finish your walk!

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Lough Aroher Loop Mayo 10km, moderate difficulty

Start from the town of Newport – on the N59 between Westport and Achill. Follow the N59 in the direction of Achill for just 1km before turning right at a signpost indicating Treenlaur Youth Hostel and Lough Furnace.

After 1km go straight at a signpost for Lough Furnace, and continue along this road past Lough Feeagh (on your left). Pass Treenlaur Youth Hostel and Shramore Lodge, and then cross a small bridge over the Srahrevagh River. Almost immediately after the bridge turn left onto

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Walking

Barnavave, Carlingford a forestry roadway (following the signposts for the Bangor Trail and the Western Way). Follow the forestry roadway for approx 1km – the trailhead is located at the stone bothy.

Starting from the Brogan Carroll Bothy follow the red (and blue and purple) arrows. Cross a metal footbridge and turn left onto the Altaconey River. Follow the riverbank for 1km to reach a footbridge. Cross the bridge and turn right.

Continue to follow the red arrows along the old cattle road. After 1km the blue loop turns right onto a firebreak - you continue straight here.

Continue to follow the old roadway for approx 2km - crossing a stream en-route. Near the end of a section of forestry (on your right) watch for the point where the loop turns into the forestry via wooden posts. The more challenging purple loop continues straight - but you turn right here.

Now follow the track into forestry and join a sandy roadway which takes you along the side of Lough Aroher (on your right). Over 1km later, at a sharp right bend, the loop proceeds straight onto a green track. Follow the track as it ascends for 500m to rejoin the purple loop - then continue through Sheep’s Pass and descend to reach a forestry road where you turn right.

Follow the forestry road for almost 2km to rejoin the blue loop as it comes in from your right. Veer left and follow the blue, red and purple arrows as the loop takes you onto and along the Altacroney River for 2km to regain the trailhead.

Barnavave Loop, Louth 14km, moderate to tough.

Leave the M1 at Junction 18 – and join the R173 in the direction of Ballymascanlan and Carlingford. After 15km watch as the R173 turns (signposted Carlingford) – a further 3km takes you to the village. The Tourist Office is in the main car park on your left.

From the car park turn left and follow the red (and green and blue) arrows along the road to a T-junction where you turn left. The green and blue arrows are for the shorter Commons Loop and Barnavave Loop.

Entering the village ‘square’ turn right and ascend to the main junction where you proceed staright on to the right of Savages Victuallers.

Continue to follow the red, green and blue arrows (and the yellow arrows which are for the long-distance Tain Way) as the loop takes you to the top of River Road. The green loop goes straight ahead here - but you turn right onto a sandy roadway.

Follow the red, blue and yellow arrows along the roadway past gates and into forestry. The loop travels through the forestry for more than 1km before reaching a forestry track (on the left) where both loops turn left and leave the Tain Way. Now you ascend gently to reach the edge of forestry and a 20m climb takes you to a stile over a wire fence. Cross the stile, turn left, and follow the wire fence for 1km to reach the end of the forestry. Veer right here.

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Barnavave

Continue to follow the red and blue arrows for 300m to reach a bend in a grassy roadway where you rejoin the Tain Way. The red loop turns right here - but you veer left and downhill. Follow the grassy roadway for 500m to reach a wooden gate - pass through it and follow the arrows to the left. The loop now sweeps downhill and right and, after 500m, joins a surfaced roadway. Here you rejoin the Barnavave Loop and turn left and downhill.

The loop takes you down to the Parish Church on the outskirts of the village, and then turns left and back to the village square. It’s only 100m from there to the trailhead. Grid Ref. OS Sheet 79, W268 903

Cahergal Loop, West Cork 10km, moderate to tough

The trailhead is located at the old Butter House in the townland of Letter on the Sheep’s Head Peninsula. Starting from the town of Bantry (on the N71 in West Cork) follow the N71 in the direction of Cork. After a little more than 1km turn right onto the R591 (signposted Durrus). This coast road takes you through the village of Durrus (4km) and Ahakista (another 5km). Approximately 6km past Ahakista you reach the village of Kilcrohane – continue straight through it and travel a further 4km to reach the Butter House (old stone building) on your left.

Walking

Cahergal

Cahergal

Maulin Mountain Loop Wicklow 6km, tough

From the M11 (Dublin to Wexford road) take the turn-off (R117) for Enniskerry. From Enniskerry take the R760 following signposts for Powerscourt Waterfall. Pass the gates of the waterfall (on your left) and continue along this minor road to Crone Woods Car Park.

Leaving the trailhead at the Butter House follow the blue (and green and orange) arrows and travel a short 30m before turning left onto a laneway. The green arrows are for the shorter Cahergal Loop, the orange arrows for the more difficult Peakeen Walk – a linear trail which crosses the mountains to Kilcrohane. Ascending quickly, the loop joins a green track and after crossing three stiles, enters an open field towards the mountains. Crossing a stile at the end of the field, the loops separate – the Ballynatra Loop and Peakeen Walk proceed straight uphill, but you turn left following the blue arrows.

The loop now crosses a section of open hillside to reach a surfaced roadway in the townland of Cahergal. Here it crosses the road and joins the Sheeps Head Way (a long-distance trail marked with the familiar yellow arrows and walking man) for almost 3km along Gortavallig and the north coast of the peninsula. The loop and Way continue to overlap with each other to the end of a ‘green’ laneway in the townland of Reagh where the Way veers right – but you turn left onto a surfaced roadway.

After a short distance the loop turns right and crosses a stile into farmlands. Note that you are also following the red arrows of the Poet’s Loop - one of two loops that start and finish at the top of the peninsula.

Ascend to reach another surfaced roadway, where you turn left again and shortly afterwards turn right across another stile and ascend to a ridge where you rejoin the Sheep’s Head Way. Here you turn left (and leave the Poet’s Way) and make your way along an old green road for approx 1km. At the end of this section the loop and Way turn right and descend to join the ‘main’ road where you turn left. After 200m the shorter Ballynatra Loop joins you from a roadway on your right. Continue straight ahead – it’s only 100m back to the trailhead!

Crone Woods is situated on the southern side of the Glencree Valley in the heart of the garden! The valley is one of a series of glaciated valleys that run in an east-west direction along the eastern side of the Wicklow Mountains. Records show that as early as 13th century the steep sides of Crone in the Glencree valley were set aside as a Royal Hunting Park.

Documents from nearby Powerscourt Estate reveal that the name Crone was in use as far back as 1757 and may derive from ‘cruasdhne’ (Gaelic for ‘hard ground’). This area became a hideout following the 1798 rebellion for bands of rebels and insurgents. The British Military built the Military Road with a barracks at the top of the valley to open up the area following the 1798 rising. During the ensuing centuries the value of the oak in the area was recognised and the woodland exploited for timber.

Today the forest is sustainably managed to produce quality saw log and tree species include Scots pine, Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, Larch and Corsican pine. The forest is home to a variety of animals including deer, foxes, badgers and red squirrels. The first section of this loop overlaps with the Wicklow Way – a long-distance waymarked route that extends from Dublin City, through County Wicklow and into County Carlow. The Way and Loop part company at a magnificent viewing point at Ride Rock - overlooking Powerscourt Waterfall.

Starting from the top of the car park, follow the arrows on the red disc (with footprints) to reach the mapboard where you turn left. Follow the red arrows (and also the yellow arrows for the Wicklow Way) along forestry road for 1.5km to reach Ride Rock on a sharp right bend. From here enjoy the spectacular view of Powerscourt Waterfall before turning right onto a narrower trail and leaving the Wicklow Way. Follow this woodland trail as it makes its way gently uphill through new forestry. The final 200m of this section climbs steeply to reach a wider path and somewhat more level ground on the upper shoulder of Maulin Mountain.

The loop continues for a further 1km along a path at the top edge of forestry to reach a sandy forestry road where it turns right and downhill.

Now the loop uses some of the extensive network of forestry roads in this area to descend to the trailhead. Keep a close lookout for the directional arrows on the red discs – some of them are on trees.

Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 81

Benefits Of Age

Celebrating the Third Age in Life

It may be a bit of a stretch to say that 60 is the new 40, but it is true that older people have never been so healthy, looked so well or contributed so much. Better health and more income security mean that many over-60s can look forward to years of fulfilled and productive lives. Never before have we lived so hopefully or so long.

In 1900, older people in Ireland numbered one in 25. Today the over-60s number one in nine. By 2050 it is we will be almost one in three. Such statistics are often presented in negative terms – bed blockers, the demographic time bomb - as if zimmer frames and crutches were suddenly going to explode in the sky and rain down on top of us all.

Let’s talk instead about the demographic bounty, about what older people offer. As well as living longer, we are living smarter. Changes in longevity and health have transformed the nature and experience of old age. Today we are adding years to the life – and life to the years. We remain engaged and active in our own communities. We contribute as parents, grandparents, godparents, friends, neighbours, volunteers, and social activists. We have life skills, professional qualifications, experience - and often the ability to take the long-term view. Many parents and grandparents are deeply connected to family. We are the glue that gives family cohesion and passes on the family values. Parents may also financially assist their adult children, and contribute as unpaid childminders.

diseases. So getting out-of-doors benefits us psychologically and helps our physical health too.

It has been said that if all the people volunteering in Ireland were to walk away, the country would grind to a halt. Older people volunteer in great numbers. Voluntary work helps us feel useful and fulfilled, can counter the negative aspects of ageing, and bestow a renewed sense of purpose around a time of retirement from work.

So much for the many personal benefits of older people staying engaged and helping themselves and others. What about the benefits for community, government and society as a whole? The first stage of life is childhood, the second stage is productive adulthood, and the fourth may be a time of frailty and dependency. Enter the potential of the third age.

There is ample evidence that keeping people in the third age in life – as productive citizens pre- and post-retirement - reduces their cost to the state. Such older people are more likely to be able to remain in their own homes and communities with less call on medical and social services.

Other necessary supports to facilitate engagement include good local public transport, local services such as shops, hospitals, primary health care services, post offices and Garda Stations.

Adding life to the years is often expressed as positive ageing, and numerous studies prove the link between positive ageing and staying engaged in life. This makes sense. One of the main determinants of wellbeing is a sense of social inclusion, feeling you belong, being part of community.

How can society promote the continued engagement of older people? First, we need develop more post-retirement roles through social networks, relevant organisations, learning opportunities, sports, the arts, policy development and decision-making. We need to redefine later life to recognise that older people have a wide range of views, experiences, skills and ideas that need to be identified, acknowledged and used for the benefit of society. As older people, let us not be backward in coming forward. We need to let our light shine to illuminate those dark corners of ageism and show that old dogs can learn (and teach) new tricks.

So how do we stay connected? One way is to stay active. Taking regular physical exercise - walking, swimming, golf, bowls, gardening - adds to muscle strength, joint flexibility and cardiovascular health. A wealth of research evidence also links physical activity with reduced age-related

by Anne Dempsey, Communications Manager, Third Age, promoting the value of older people.

SeniorLine Ireland’s only senior national listening service Freefone 180 80 45 91, www.thirdageireland.ie

82 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

Young at Heart Breaks 2 Nights B&B & 2 Dinners €129 per person!

The four star Annebrook House Hotel, in the centre of Mullingar, Co. Westmeath overlooking 10 acres of Parkland, the perfect setting for your next getaway.

Choose to stay in one of our Deluxe Bedrooms or opt for extra comfort in one of our Apartment Suites.

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Annebrook House Hotel Austin Friar St., Mullingar, Co. Westmeath Tel 044 935 33 00 | E: sales@annebrook.ie www.annebrook.ie

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Wildlife

Blackbird - A common garden inhabitant that lives amongst brambles, ivy and hedgerows.

Their diet includes; insects and earthworms, also berries and other fruit including apples, which can be placed on a bird table.

(Michael Finn)

A Window on Winter Wildlife and the Irish Countryside Darren Ellis of BirdWatch Ireland is your guide

The seasonal change of deciduous shrubs and trees in the lead up to the Irish winter presents an exciting time for birdwatchers. The autumnal descent of leaves gives us a good opportunity to assess how productive the year has been, in terms of breeding success, for our cherished garden birds. While the branches are bare and the protective cover provided by summer foliage is no longer present, our ability to see the activity therein is much greater.

Having emerged from the demands of the annual reproductive cycle, during which time the majority of garden birds keep a low profile for the protection of their brood, the adult birds undergo a seasonal moult to replace damaged or worn feathers and rejuvenate their plumage.

At around the same time, the young shed their juvenile plumage and develop adul colours.

This phenomenon means that each winter we as garden birdwatchers are treated to a brand new colour spectacle from the comfort of our homes. The moult is not solely a visual makeover however but also serves a very important functional purpose.

The development of new feathers keep birds in top flying condition in preparation for the arduous winter foraging challenge which they must now undertake.

The provision of winter sustenance to our garden birds through various methods of feeding is now more important than ever and we can easily see that the diversity of avian visitors to our gardens increases with the more varieties of nuts, seeds and fruits that we provide.

Robin – One of our most recognisable garden visitors and a frequent visitor to bird tables, perhaps less frequently to upright feeders. They have a diet of insects in summer but take seeds and fruit during winter months.

(Michael Finn)

Formerly, the attraction of birds to our gardens may have been seen as a means for our own enjoyment; however, recent scientific research has shown that our gardens are very important for the support of wild bird populations and provide sustenance and shelter for many of our favourite songbird species.

The reasons for the increased importance of our gardens are down to the intensification of agricultural practices. Such demands are bringing the viability of the birds’ natural woodland and hedgerow habitats into question.

Similar pressures are occurring on the habitats of our upland and farmland birds as well. Marginal land or High Nature Value (HNV) Farmland are frequently undervalued for the ecosystem services they provide.

Instead, land management practices which

84 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

Blue Tits with Coal Tits on suet ball - A mix of seeds and nuts will be attractive to a number of birds in the Tit family, including the Blue tit and Coal tit (pictured) but also Great tits and Long-tailed tits.

(Theresa Gunn)

bring short-term financial gains are being supported.

Most recently, such support has included a change in our national forestry policy to support the expansion of coniferous plantations, a system which leaves no room for some of our most threatened upland and farmland species, including the likes of; Curlew, Lapwing, Hen Harrier or Yellowhammer.

Wildlife

Goldfinch – Often seen in garden trees and hedges.

Their preferred foods are fine seeds of grasses and thistles and can be attracted to winter feeders with nyjer seeds and sunflower seeds (David Dillon)

Through our network of dedicated wildlife observers and BirdWatch Ireland members we collect and manage data from over 1,500 gardens nationwide. This data allows us to determine population trends which can be used effectively to implement conservation management policies and actions for the protection of Ireland’s garden birds.

A wide range of recommended bird food and feeders is available through our online shop. For advice and information on how to attract and care for garden birds you can find factsheets on our website, or simply call us on the number below.

At BirdWatch Ireland, we are ambassadors for the concerns of our members and fight for the conservation of our country’s birds and wildlife.

The support of our members is fundamental to the work we do. If you would like to become a member of Ireland’s largest and most influential wildlife conservation charity you can join us through our website www.birdwatchireland.ie or by calling us on 01-2819878 BirdWatch Ireland membership also makes a wonderful gift: with four issues of our Wings magazine posted quarterly and hundreds of public events taking place throughout the year, it truly is the gift that keeps on giving.

Most importantly, your membership contribution will go directly towards protecting birds and biodiversity in Ireland.

Wren – A favoured habitat of dense understory and scrub means these birds will most often be seen close to the ground. They only eat insects which means the best way to feed them through the winter is with dried meal worms scattered on the ground. (John Fox)

86 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

Experience an EPIC Christmas with your family!

EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum invites you on a magical journey through the atmospheric vaults of The CHQ Building in Dublin city centre. There your family will be welcomed by Mrs Claus and Santa’s Elves before meeting Santa himself in his magical grotto.

EPIC is an entertaining, accessible and educational day of family fun for kids, adults and grandparents alike.

The museum is highly interactive, with easy-to-use technology and filled with stories of Irish people who travelled the world highlighting their achievements in music, literature, sport, politics, fashion and science.

There are plenty of family-friendly activities for all ages at EPIC: stamp your souvenir passport, try out some Irish dancing moves, watch the action on our interactive sports table, choose your favourite Irish villain, listen to the books in our talking library, and surprise family and friends with a digital postcard.

• Visit Santa in his magical grotto and receive a special gift • Meet with Mrs Claus and make a special pouch of reindeer food • Write and post your letter to Santa • Visit our award winning interactive museum • Take part in an EPIC Discovery Trail and learn about Christmas traditions around the world Santa’s Grotto is open from 10am – 5pm on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th December, and again on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd December. Prices start from €8.50 and includes admission to Santa’s Grotto and entry to the museum.

BOOK NOW TEL +353 (0)1 906 0861 Wheelchair and buggy accessible Follow us on:

FIND US We are located in the historic CHQ building which includes a fantastic choice of cafés, restaurants and shops Luas: Red line, George’s Dock stop DART: 5 minute walk from Connolly and Tara Street Station Dublin Bus: Multiple routes stopping both outside CHQ and in surrounding areas Dublin Bikes: Station no. 8, right outside the door Parking: IFSC ParkRite (3 min walk) - discounted parking for up to 3 hours available

Surprise someone this Christmas with an EPIC gift

Gift C ar

d

An EPIC gift card is the perfect gift for someone eager to explore 1500 years of Irish history.

Or why not give the gift of EPIC Membership with unlimited visits as well as tours, special events, discounts, and offers with the on-site Irish Family History Centre?

Horseracing

Kevin partnered many winners and is proud of the achievement of winning three races, over five furlongs, a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half on the strand at Laytown on the same day.

Staying the course Noel Coogan traces the long and illustrious career of racehorse trainer Kevin Prendergast who, at 80 plus, has no plans to retire.

Shortly before his 80th birthday, veteran horse racing trainer Kevin Prendergast was asked about retiring and his reply was: ‘Sure what I do if that happened? Lie down and die?’

Six years and a bit later the man from Co Kildare is still going strong and turning out a steady stream of winners.

Born on July 5, 1932 in Australia, Kevin was well-bred for the racing game as his father, Paddy, popularly known as ‘Darkie,’ became one of Ireland's most successful flat trainers in later decades. PJ (Patrick Joseph) won a host of prestigious races both sides of the Irish Sea and dominated the English scene sufficiently to win the British trainers' championship three times, in 1963, '64 and '65.

The most notable successes achieved by 'Darkie' in England were the 2,000 Guineas by Martial, the first ever Irish-trained winner of the classic in 1960, Noblesse in the Oaks and a St Leger success with Ragusa.

Foremost in his Irish classic wins were the Derby victories by Ragusa and Meadow Court. One of Meadow Court's owners was popular singer Bing Crosby, who bought the colt in partnership with Max Bell and Frank McMahon.

PJ Prendergast was noted for turning out top-class two-year-olds and among such stars were Windy City, The Pie King and Floribunda. He enjoyed an impressive total of 22 successes at the Royal Ascot festival and was Irish champion trainer six times.

'Darkie' travelled with his horses to England from the North Wall in Dublin and in an interview a few years ago, Kevin said it could take as long to get to the north of England then as it would take to get to Australia nowadays.

Paddy went Down Under with his wife shortly after being married in 1931 to unsuccessfully pursue a riding career. Kevin was born in Melbourne the following year before his parents moved back to Ireland.

'Darkie' first took out a trainer's licence in 1940 and held it until 1980 before passing away that year at the age of 70.

88 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

Kevin Prendergast: ‘Maybe the main regret I have now is that I'm getting old but hopefully there will be a few more winners.’

Kevin Prendergast went to college at Newbridge and Rockwell where he figured on Leinster and Munster rugby cup-winning teams. He was described as ‘a handy hooker’ and after a spell in Australia, returned home to find out that his former team-mate Mick English had graduated to be out half on the Irish senior team.

But horse racing was obviously going to take precedence over rugby as a sporting career and shortly after finishing his schooling, Kevin headed back Down Under where he spent five years 'learning the ropes' with top Aussie trainer Frank Dawson.

After returning to Ireland, he was assistant trainer to his father for the next nine years before taking out a licence of his own in 1963.

Kevin was also a successful amateur jockey and on May 11, 1963 when gaining a first victory as a trainer, he was also in the saddle for that momentous success.

While he was never managed to win the Irish amateur jockeys championship, Kevin partnered many winners and is proud of the achievement of winning three races, over five furlongs, a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half on the strand at Laytown on the same day.

Prendergast's first winner as a trainer came at Leopardstown in the Capstan Stakes, a two-mile contest for amateur riders with evens

Horseracing

A number of notable jockeys have been associated with Kevin Prendergast down the decades and probably the best was Kieren Fallon, who served his apprenticeship with the Kildare trainer. Kevin provided the future champion with his first winner when Piccadilly Lord won at Navan in June, 1984

Kevin Prendergast considers Ardross, seen here with Lester Piggott up, as the best horse he ever handled. Ardross, won Ascot Gold Cup twice as well as a number of other prestigious races.

favourite Zara landing the spoils by a length and a half from 7/4 second favourite Limekiln Palace. It was a modest heat for Kevin Prendergast to launch his training career with and now 55 years later he has more than 2,000 victories, a good number of them in prestigious races, to his credit.

Remarkably, Kevin has turned out winners in six different decades with many owners and jockeys sharing in his successes, big and small. The first major victory was recorded in the 1972 Irish 1,000 Guineas with Wally Swinburn aboard the 20/1 outsider. The filly completed a notable double when landing the Irish St Leger at odds of 15/2 with T. P. Burns doing the steering.

Prendergast made it two Curragh St Leger victories in successive years when Conor Pass took the honours in the mile and six furlongs classic in 1973. The Paul Jarman - partnered colt, the 5/1 second favourite -- held on to deny the 6/4 favourite from England, ridden by Joe Mercer, with three-quarters of a length to spare.

Another Irish classic success was gained in 1976 with Northern Treasure springing a major surprise in the Irish 2,000 Guineas as Meath-native jockey Gabriel 'Squibs' Curran gained the biggest success of his riding career to date. The 33/1 outsider just got the better of 2/1 favourite Comeram by a short head.

Prendergast and Curran teamed up for a good number of successes, the most significant being recorded with Nebbiolo in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in 1977. Kevin won the race 17 years after his father triumphed in the one-mile classic with the generally unfancied 20/1 scoring from Tachypus and Geoff Lewis with the Vincent O'Brien-trained favourite and future Epsom Derby winner third.

Nebbiolo's victory was obviously not a surprise to Kevin Prendergast,. who afterwards stated: ‘I really thought he'd do it and backed him at

Remarkably, Kevin has turned out winners in six different decades with many owners and jockeys sharing in his successes, big and small

33/1. I won four classics in Ireland but this is my first in England and it's my greatest thrill.’ Prendergast and Curran gained a second Irish 1,000 Guineas success in 1981 when Arctique Royale just got the better of Blue Wind and Wally Swinburn by a short head. The 7/1 chance was bred by Kevin's late father Paddy.

A number of notable jockeys have been associated with Kevin Prendergast down the decades and probably the best was Kieren Fallon, who served his apprenticeship with the Kildare trainer. Kevin provided the future champion with his first winner when Piccadilly Lord won at Navan in June, 1984 Another rider to enjoy big race successes with the long-serving Friarstown trainer is Isle of Man - native Stephen Craine, who rode five winners at a Sunday meeting in Navan in August, 1985. Craine won the Irish St Leger on Oscar Schindler for Kevin in 1996 and '97.

The Curragh September classic was for three-year-olds for many years before being opened to older horses in 1983 and Oscar Schindler won the race at the ages of four and five. The colt was 5/1 for the first success and 2/1 favourite 12 months later.

Kevin gained a landmark success in a long career when Tell The Wind gave him his 2,000th victory as a trainer at Dundalk on September 24, Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 89

Horseracing 2010. Declan McDonagh partnered the 11/2 winner of the Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Maiden at the Co Louth track.

Remarkably, Prendergast bridged a gap of 40 years when turning out Awtaad to win the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh. The colt owned by Hamdam Al Maktoum went off at odds of 9/2 and cruised into contention under Chris Hayes in the last two furlongs to beat 5/4 favourite Galileo Gold by two and a half lengths. After the victory a delighted Kevin remarked: ‘This horse is the best I've had for a long time. This is the best thing to happen to me for years, it's great.’

While Kevin Prendergast has been mainly a trainer of flat horses, he has also had a few jumpers and in recent years he enjoyed a few successes with Katie T. The most notable victory by the mare was gained in the 100,000 Euro BoyleSports Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown in January, 2015. The 12/1 winner was ridden by English-based Brian Hughes, originally from Northern Ireland, who began his racing career with Kevin and was delighted to be part of a big race success for his former boss.

While Kevin Prendergast won eight classics with six horses, it's another equine star, Ardross, that he considers as the best he ever handled. Ardross, winner of the Ascot Gold Cup twice and a number of other prestigious races, was in the care of Kevin for a short while after the death of his father. The brilliant stayer won the Jockey Club Cup at Newmarket for him in 1980 with Lester Piggott aboard before going on to Henry Cecil.

For a man in the second half of his 80s, Kevin Prendergast retains an amazing enthusiasm for training horses and at the end of August he travelled to the Doncaster sales where he bought a couple of thoroughbreds.

He has around 30 horses in training and when asked about the number of his staff, he jokingly replied, ‘I think I may have more staff than horses.’

Stephen Craine is his assistant and the veteran trainer has seven daughters, none of whom are sufficiently interested in taking over the reins.

Even in his advanced years, Kevin is still an early riser. ‘I am usually out and about before some of the rest arrive,’ he remarked.

When asked about hopes for the future, he replied: ‘I would like to see my nephew Patrick, who is also a trainer, do well. He works hard and is a good lad.’

Kevin Prendergast does not have many regrets. ‘I've had a long life, had many good days in racing, enjoy good support from my family and friends and am still in good health. Maybe the main regret I have now is that I'm getting old but hopefully there will be a few more winners,’ he said.

Belleek Pottery - discover a heritage 161 years old Are you planning a day trip or a group tour? Why not visit Belleek Pottery, nestled on the shores of Lough Erne in Co.Fermanagh. The heritage, history and traditions that were created in 1857 are still the foundation of our story 161 years on at Belleek Pottery.

Belleek Pottery is recognised as Irelands oldest working pottery, we invite you to our visitor centre to experience and discover our expert craftsmanship, 4* visitor services and world famous product range. Our visitor experience includes a guided tour, bringing you on a 30-minute tour of the manufacturing process that takes place to produce Belleek Pottery. All tours have a personal guide who will provide an introduction to the pottery visitor experience. From the beginning, visitors will see, hear and touch the product throughout the tour.

As one of Northern Ireland’s most recognised 4* tourist attractions, visitors and locals continue to flock to the visitor centre. What makes the visitor experience most interesting for those who visit is the combined presentation of industrial heritage, design and craftsmanship. In addition to the displays of exquisite craftsmanship, a 20-minute audiovisual presentation will inform you of the rich history of the pottery

from its beginnings in the mid 1800’s right the way through to present day.

The Visitor Centre at Belleek Pottery offers a unique experience whilst visiting the Fermanagh Lakelands. Our museum houses a collection of the finest pieces produced over the last 161 years. The Belleek Retail Showroom is a modern, stylish retail outlet, displaying the vast range of Belleek products for sale. From tableware collections to basketware, you will be sure to find a gift for any event or special occasion.

To commerorate our 160th year Belleek launched ONE SIXTY, a photographic collection of moments and memories telling the story of Belleek Pottery over 16 decades.

ONE SIXTY showcases the people, scenery and industrial heritage of the Pottery. We have gathered photos showing the many, many faces that have worked in the pottery over the years, including an early 1900’s staff photo.

To finish off your visit to Belleek, our restaurant offers a selection of hot and cold food during the week and soup and sandwiches at weekends. We also have a scrumptious selection of baked goods and sweet treats to accompany your tea and coffee, all served on Belleek Tableware.

90 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

Since 1857, Belleek Pottery has been welcoming visitors’ from across the world to the unique village of Belleek. We look forward to welcoming you too for the first time or as a returning guest.

Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre, Belleek, Co.Fermanagh BT93 3FY Tel:+44(0)28 686 59300 / +44(0)28 686 58501 Email: takethetour@belleek.ie Web: www.belleekpottery.ie www.facebook.com/PotteryVC

Competition results from last issue CROSSWORD Four copies of Follow the Old Road Eileen Phil Woulfe, Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick Michael Quann, Lismore, Co Waterford Lillian Webb, Naas, Co Kildare Noel Fallon, Tipperary Town Jim Daly TD, Minister of State, Aine Brady, CEO Third Age and Damian Leneghan, Programme Manager SeniorLine

SeniorLine is a national confidential listening service for older people delivered by trained older volunteers. Open every day of the year 10am-10pm. We listen. We help. We Support.

Freefone 1800 80 45 91 • www.thirdageireland.ie/seniorline

TWO-NIGHT BREAK AT THE KENMARE BAY HOTEL Dee Sheil, Salthill, Co Galway BLACKWATER STRAWBERRY GIN Mary Morley, Co Louth GUESS THE YEAR 1938

Cosmetics and Grooming

Pampering results Mairead Robinson looks at seasonal treats to brighten these winter days.

It is that time of year again where we miss that summer sun – and what a summer of sun it was! – so we prepare for the darker winter days ahead. But the best way to greet the arrival of seasonal change, is by a little pampering. Now is the time to make sure your skin is well nourished and restored after all that heat so look to products and treatments that will do just that. First up is to treat yourself to a good anti-aging facial that will brighten and plump up your skin for the months ahead. If you have a winter wedding to go to, then plan this for a few days prior to the wedding date, also if you are colouring your hair, do this a week before as well, so that with a couple of washes it will look its best and brightest. Always choose a facial that is right your own skin type, this is essential, and your therapist should advise you on this.

For mature skin, I came across an excellent new treatment at Buff Day Spa in Dublin. www.thebuffdayspa.com It is called The “Ever Young” and combines Image Skincare with Venus Freeze technology. Hailed as the facelift of the future, this non-invasive treatment tackles wrinkles, sagginess and laughter lines and stimulates collagen to plump up the skin and give it a younger, tighter appearance.

It is suitable for the face and neck and perfect on all types of skin. This combination creates a truly unique advanced anti-aging skincare

treatment with impressive results after just one treatment. The stimulation from the Venus Freeze together with the Image products results in greater penetration of the active ingredients into the deeper layers of the skin. So, did I notice a difference after one treatment?

Indeed I did, and it was a painless treatment with no downtime. My family also noticed a marked improvement after the treatment.

92 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

There is a special introductory offer of €120, if you mention Senior Times.

And so to skin care at home. New to the market from L’Oreal is their Age Perfect Intensive Re-Nourish range, specifically designed for those of us 60+ This new range includes a Day Cream, Night Balm, Repairing Serum and their new ‘hero’ product, Manuka Honey Mira-

Dating and matchmaking service

So what makes us THE unique, best qualified and most professional matchmaking agency in Dublin? * Sharon Brophy ( Trinity College Psychology graduate) and Bill Phelan (10 years a matchmaker with more than a 1000 successful introductions to date) meet everybody together and spend up to 2 hours getting to know you in order tp arrange suitable introductions. * There in NO charge for the initial meeting. * At the initial meeting we are careful to be very aware of the relationship goals of our members. * We cannot accept all applications for membership as we have to take into account the needs of existing members. *Sharon and Bill provide a unique service as we ensure that each introduction is arranged having regard to age, religion, height, weight, children, culture, character,values ,education, hobbies/interests etc and has the benefit of both a female and a male perspective.

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Guided Pottery Tours Pottery Museum Audiovisual Theatre Self Service Restaurant Belleek Retail Showroom ONE SIXTY Photographic Exhibition Belleek. Co.Fermanagh. N.Ireland. BT93 3FY Tel:+44(0)28 686 59300/+44(0)28 686 58501 Email: takethetour@belleek.ie Web: www.belleekpottery.ie

Cosmetics and Grooming

cle Salve. Originating from New Zealand, the iconic Manuka Honey is famous for its repairing and medicinal properties. A powerful raw ingredient, it is concentrated in essential nutrients and minerals. Calcium B5 is known for its fortifying and moisturising properties while acacia honey is a source of vitamins and minerals and so the combination combats the feeling of dry, dehydrated and tight skin, making way for nourished, hydrated, more comfortable and supple to the touch skin.

Use the day cream after the Serum, and the night cream after the Serum also, while the Salve is a hand-bag product for use when and where needed. This can be areas such as elbows, hands and neck as well as you face of course and is designed to rescue dry skin anytime, anywhere. What I like about this range is that it is specifically targeting the 60+ demographic, and is also very reasonably priced with each product costing just €30. Try it out for a few weeks and see and feel the difference. The serum itself feels like silk on the skin.

Now it might seem too early to mention the C word – but Christmas is really not so far away, and as well as pampering yourself, you might like to treat somebody special with the above.

Both are gifts most of us would love to receive.

desses Aphrodite and Venus. Full of natural humectants, pears balance the skin’s moisture levels, keeping it supple. This ultra-hydrating range deeply moisturise with shea butter and Vitamin E to revive skin while the delicate scent awakens the senses.

And it is always a good plan to give a present that you would like to get yourself – and for me that would include the lovely Crabtree & Evelyn hand and skin care range. Each new product has a specific aim, to uplift, moisturise, energise or sooth. We should never forget our hands when it comes to moisturising and this range makes for perfect present ideas to yourself and others, and you can choose from four amazing scents:- Citron & Coriander; Goatmilk & Oat; Pomegranate & Argon Oil, and my personal favourite –Pear & Pink Magnolia.

Interestingly enough, these beautiful hand creams have many other benefits including using a little to de-frizz split ends and dry hair and can also be used to help remove stuck rings on swollen fingers! The 25ml travel size hand therapy tubes are perfect for your hand-bag and cost just €6.95 while the 100ml boxed size is priced at €16.95 and both are available in pharmacies nationwide. Some very affordable and most acceptable gift ideas for the coming festive season.

The petals and bark of the delicately-flowered magnolia are regularly used in herbal remedies to combat a variety of maladies from menstrual cramps to anxiety. The ancient Greeks and Romans held the pear in high esteem, believing it to be a symbol of the love god-

And so remember as the colder, wetter and windy weather arrives, the secret for survival is to moisturise, moisturise and moisturise your skin again. Not forgetting your SPF, as that winter sun might not feel very warm but it can still potentially damage and age you skin.

94 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

Autumn on the Island...

Autumn Lodge Escape

2 Nights in the self-catering Lodges (sleep 6) from

€299

Bird watching, artist pods, falconry, clay shooting, golf, Island picnics, pitch & foot, tennis, and award winning dining options.

Our artist pods allow you to capture our wildlife & Autumn foliage in the quiet stillness of the glass pods.

Minutes from Waterford City & the Greenway’s 46kms of scenic bike paths from Waterford to Dungarvan. Take a tour of Waterford’s Viking Triangle, Waterford Crystal, and our many Museums.

16th century Luxury Castle escape stay on the 310 acre private Island & taste the award winning cuisine. Includes 2 night Bed & Breakfast & 1 dinner for 2 from €398 (T&C apply, subject to availability)

Contact us to plan your Island Escape T: (051) 878 203 or E: info@waterfordcastleresort.com

Literature

Renaissance man In the latest in her series of literary-themed travels, Lorna Hogg profiles the great polymath T.E. Lawrence

Clouds Hill, Dorset, now a National Trust property

Working closely with Emir Faisal, leader of the Revolt, Lawrence led activities against the Ottoman armed forces, culminating in the fall of Damascus.

T.E. Lawrence, ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, Col. Thomas Edward Lawrence, C.B. DSO, was born on 16th August, 1888, in Tremadog, Wales. His parents were Thomas Chapman and Sarah Junner, a Scottish governess to the Anglo Irish Chapman family, who lived in South Hill, Delvin, Co. Westmeath. However, there were no estate celebrations for this birth of a second son to the heir of the Chapman baronetcy - Lawrence was born illegitimate.

This social and legal situation naturally had a powerful effect on his life.

Yet the outsider that he was, named for his mother’s likely father, he would later turn the fact around. He achieved lasting fame for his liasion role in Arabian politics and nascent nationhood during World War 1.

Lawrence’s father, (who became the 7th and last Chapman Baronet in 1914), and Sarah took the name `Lawrence.’ They moved their second family many times during the young boy’s early life - Lawrence was the second of their five sons. They stayed in Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Jersey and Hampshire, before finally settling in Oxford. The young Lawrence grew to be interested in antiquities and archaelogy, and read History at Jesus College, Oxford from 1907-1910. His early interest in Arabia showed when in 1909, he took a three month walking tour of the Crusader Castles in then Ottoman Syria – travelling 1000 miles on foot.

He started work as an archaelogist at the British museum, and visited Syria and learned Arabic. With the outbreak of war in 1914, he volunteered for the British Army, and was sent to Egypt on an intelligence mission. He was later sent to Arabia, and became involved in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman armed forces.

96 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

Working closely with Emir Faisal, leader of the Revolt, he led activities against the Ottoman armed forces, culminating in the fall of Damascus.

It was later said of him by General Allenby that he was ‘the mainspring of the Arab Movement, and knew their language, their manners and their mentality..’

After the War, the now Colonel Lawrence joined the Foreign Office, attending the Paris Peace Conference. He also achieved his own fame, when a war correspondent colleague launched a photo show of their time in the Orient, as it was then called, complete with pictures of Lawrence in Bedouin robes. Lawrence became a household name. The breadth of his activities and his abilities to describe his experiences in print would earn him fame as the legendary `Lawrence of Arabia’.

A seven year research scholarship allowed Lawrence to start writing down his experiences. At this time he wrote his famed Seven Pillars of Wisdom, (1926) telling his story of his participation in the Arab Revolt. It includes his account, perhaps with some embellishments, of his famous crossing of the Sinai Peninsula from Aquaba to the Suez Canal, which in reality was completed in 70 hours.

His book Revolt in the Desert was an abridged version of Seven Pillars and was published in 1927. Concerned that people would think that he would make a substantial sum of money from his book, he did not take any money from its publication. In late 1926, he set up a Trust. Once his publishing debts were paid, it paid money into an educational fund for

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Grand Fjordland Splendour

12 nights

9-August 2019

Dublin

Spain, Portugal & Gibraltar

10 nights

19-August 2019

Dublin

Summertime Fjordland

11 nights

30-August 2019

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British Isles Discovery

12 nights

11-September 2019

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12 nights

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Baltic Cities & St Petersburg

16 nights

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Iceland, Faroes & Land of the Northern Lights

13 nights

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Tel: 074 91 35201 Email: jmgtravel@eircom.net 19/09/2018 16:47

Literature

Lawrence’s grave in Moreton

How the Daily Sketch reported Lawrence’s death

children of RAF officers who had died or been wounded as a result of service.

A Renaissance man, Lawrence was a talented writer, plus translating books into English, and writing letters, as well as a successful archaelogist, military officer and diplomat. He often corresponded with notable literary figures, including G.B. Shaw, Elgar, Noel Coward, Siegfried Sassoon and Winston Churchill. His major works also included two translations – Homer’s Odyssey and The Forest Giant , a little known piece of French fiction. The Mint, stylistically different, which was left unpublished at his death, was an account of his time as an aircraftman in the Royal Air Force. Lawrence’s own literary tastses included the unexpected – he carried a copy of Malory’s Morte d’Arthur with him during military campaigns.

In 1935, Lawrence left military service - and two months after, he was involved in a crash on his Brough Superior motorbike. A dip in the road obscured his view of two boys, and after swerving to avoid them, he lost control and was thrown over the handlebars. He died six days later, on 19th May at the age of 46.

In 1919, on his father’s death, he had discovered the full story of his early life. The fact that this followed the death of two of his brothers on the Western Front, may have contributed to what appears to have been a crisis of identity. Lawrence entered the Royal Air Force as an airman in 1922, changing his name, and this later led to dismissal. Another name change followed, to T. E. Shaw, and he joined the Royal Tank Corps in 1923. The RAF re-admitted him in 1925, and he was posted to modern day Pakistan, where he served until 1928.

Lawrence was buried in the Frampton family plot in St. Nicholas Church, Moreton. He was not unattended – his mourners included Winston and Clementine Churchill, the writer E. M. Forster, and Lady Atlee. He died childless – but his name and legend lives on. The fair haired, blue eyed hero of the desert, dressed in Bedouin garb has been immortalised, due in part to David Lean’s spectacular 1962 film, Lawrence of Arabia

He also expressed a desire to visit his family’s homeland., and some of his many letters have referneces to writings of O’Casey, Joyce and Shaw. They also contain the remark that his birth family had come from Killua, but ‘that side of the world is barred now..’

Back in Britain, he continued in the RAF, working in the area of high speed boats. Lawrence was a keen motorcyclist, and owned eight Brough Superior bikes at different times. He bought a cottage – Clouds Hill, near Wareham in Dorset. The Morton estate, bordering Bovington camp, was owned by Lawrence’s cousins, the Frampton family. Lawrence had rented Clouds Hill, one mile from Bovington camp, from the family for a while, before buying it from them.

98 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

After the accident, he had been brought to Bovington Camp, and one of the doctors attending him was Hugh Cairns, a noted neurosurgeon.

Cairns was inspired to consider the unnecessary loss of life of dispatch riders on motorccyles, and started researching the topic. It would lead to the adoption of crash helmets for both military and civilian motorcyclists.

Clouds Hill, is now owned by the National Tust. Visitors can look round the little labourer’s cottage, which Lawrence restored to monastic simplicity. After his war experiences, he needed somewhere calm and peaceful to write, and think It remains much as he left it, now without his numerous book collection, but with his specially designed chair in place.

In this cottage, his well loved gramophone is a reminder of where he relaxed, listening to Beethoven and Mozart. He revised Seven Pillars of Wisdom here, and entertained his friends to picnics. Upstairs in his monastic bedroom is a porthole window, which originated from a 1914 battleship. Don’t miss his bike shed, which contains an exhibition of his life and times. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Culture

Maretta Dillon previews what’s on in the arts around the country in the next few months

Re-imagining an extraordinary life

Junk Ensemble one of Ireland’s leading voices in dance theatre is bringing their acclaimed production Soldier Still on tour

Woman Undone is a re-imagining of the extraordinary life of one of Ireland’s best loved singers Mary Coughlan

Woman Undone is a re-imagining of the extraordinary life of one of Ireland’s best loved singers Mary Coughlan. Created by award-winning Irish theatre company Brokentalkers and Mary Coughlan in collaboration with renowned Icelandic composer and music producer Valgeir Sigurdsson. It tells the story of a young woman who endured physical and sexual abuse, addiction and mental illness; whose discovery of art and music was instrumental in helping her to overcome trauma.

The all-female cast including Mary Coughlan, Dublin-based folk pop quartet Mongoose, and dancer Erin O'Reilly. (projectartscentre.ie/brokentalkers) Painter Mary Swanzy had a remarkable life, that saw her leave Ireland to travel widely including sailing to Hawaii and Samoa in the 1920s. Despite her obvious skill and talent, she herself was very conscious that her gender impacted negatively on her career. After the War of Independence when her cousin was killed by the IRA, she lived in London in a

German cellist Benedict Kloeckner

self-imposed exile. The IMMA exhibition is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with her extraordinary achievements and reinstate her as a Modern Irish Master.

(From Oct 23 / imma.ie) Speaking of wars, Junk Ensemble one of Ireland’s leading voices in dance theatre is bringing their acclaimed production Soldier Still on tour. A combination of dance and theatre and gorgeous design performed by four exceptional dancers and former Captain, Dr Tom Clonan, the production is a poetic and human perspective of the impact of violence. Blending movement, text, music, real stories and real people, Soldier Still explores the vulnerability, the viciousness and the trauma of violence. (more from junkensemble.com) Music Network bring us two highly gifted young soloists, Russian violinist Yury Revich and German cellist Benedict Kloeckner, sharing a stage for the first time in Ireland. A breath-taking journey through some of the most exquisite

pieces in the classical canon including works

by J.S. Bach, Reinhold Glière, Fritz Kreisler, Alessandro Rolla, Niccolò Paganini, Eugène Ysaÿe, Maurice Ravel is promised. A new work by Irish composer Sebastian Adams has been commissioned specially for this tour. (musicnetwork.ie) Film director Mike Leigh orchestrates a superb ensemble cast in Peterloo, a rousing tale of working class uprising and its violent suppression in Manchester in 1819. It draws together so many of Leigh’s preoccupations: class consciousness, family dynamics, hypocrisy, humanism and the foibles of the male ego. It also led directly to the foundation of the Manchester Guardian. Starring Maxine Peake and Rory Kinnear.

If you are looking for a fight closer to home then Katie, a study of boxer Katie Taylor as she looks to reinstate her life after professional and personal upheaval, opens on October 26.

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Film director Mike Leigh orchestrates a superb ensemble cast in Peterloo

Events around the Country November/December 2018 THE ENEMY WITHIN - THE SPANISH FLU IN IRELAND 1918-19 History and exhibition The legacy of the Spanish Flu as seen in the folk medicines and cures used by the public to combat the pandemic. Until April 7, 2019 / National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo Information: museum.ie/country-life MARY SWANZY MODERN IRISH MASTER Visual Arts Ireland’s first modernist painter was outspoken, and her work never received the attention it deserved.

From Oct 28-Feb 17 / Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA), Dublin.

Admission free / information: imma.ie WESTIVAL Festival A showcase of live music, late night antics, theatre, artistic adventures, family-friendly events and visual arts.

Oct 24-29 / Westport, Co. Mayo Information and booking: westival.ie KATIE Film Director Ross Whitaker’s study of boxer Katie Taylor seeking to rebuild her professional and personal life Oct 25 nationwide SOLDIER STILL Theatre A combination of dance and theatre: this is a poetic and human perspective on the impact of violence.

Nov 1 -22 / Junk Ensemble / various venues as part of a nationwide tour Information: junkensemble.com/touring

PETERLOO Film Director Mike Leigh’s study of the 1819 Peterloo massacre when armed militias attacked peaceful marchers.

Nov 2 island wide.

SLIGO INTERNATIONAL CHORAL FESTIVAL Choral A stellar programme of singing events competitions and concerts - with choirs from all around the world.

Nov 16-18 / Knocknarea Arena, Sligo, Co. Sligo Information: sligochoralfest.com BEFORE Theatre Pat Kinevane’s new play with much music, set in Clery’s of Dublin, on the very day the iconic store shuts - for good.

Nov 7 – Dec 8 / nationwide tour Information and booking: fishamble.com YURY REVICH & BENEDICT KLOECKNER Music Virtuosi Russian violinist Yury Revich and German cellist Benedict Kloeckner share this classical music stage.

Nov 7 -12 / nationwide Information and booking: musicnetwork.ie SOUL CLAP ITS HANDS AND SING Poetry and Traditional Music Nessa O’Mahony (poet) and Dermot McLaughlin (fiddle) weave a collective spell.

Nov 8 / Poetry Ireland, 11 Parnell Square East, Dublin 1 Information: poetryireland.ie

100 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

YARN STORYTELLING FESTIVAL Festival Storytelling events taking place in venues throughout Bray and Mermaid Arts Centre.

Nov 10-18 / Bray, Co. Wicklow Information and booking: mermaidartscentre.ie WOMAN UNDONE Theatre A re-imagining of the extraordinary life of one of Ireland’s best loved singers Mary Coughlan..

Nov 17- 24 Project Arts Centre / Nov 29 Mermaid Arts Centre Information: projectartscentre.ie/brokentalkers MADELEINE PEYROUX Music 22 years on from her debut record, Peyroux is regarded as one of the great interpreters in contemporary jazz.

Nov 20 / National Concert Hall, Dublin Information and booking: nch.ie AIDA Opera Verdi’s tale of love and war. A dilemma both personal and political.

Nov 24,27,29, Dec 1 / Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin 2 Information and booking: irishnationalopera.ie Finally, if you would like your event to feature in our list of What’s On please email: events.country@gmail.com

TRAVELLERS CHECK

Upcoming vacation offers at home and abroad Cruising the Northern highlights next May

Cassidy Travel has a 7-night tour of Northern Europe from the sea next May from E1,385pps including flights from Dublin. Aboard the Independence of the Seas with drinks and meals included, guests depart from Southampton en route to Hamburg - known as ‘Venice of the North’ – and on to elegant Oslo and historic Bruges before returning to Southampton. Flights depart Dublin or Cork (with supplement) on 18 May 2019.

Call Cassidy Travel on 01 2910000 or book in one of their 9 stores across Dublin.

Cassidy Travel also has a 3-night break to historic, charming Krakow in January from just E169pps. Accommodation is in the centrally located 3-star Regency Hotel (B&B) in the atmospheric Old Town, just a 10 minute stroll from the Wawel Royal Castle in all its winter splendour.

Flight departs Dublin 19 January.

Africa calling

Long-haul specialist Classic Resort has a 11-night safari and beach experience in Kenya from E2799pps next May with flights from Dublin.

Spend 6 days and nights on safari in the Kenya Classic Sopa lodges with full board. Then chill out for 5 nights overlooking the Indian Ocean in the 4-star Baobab Beach resort, located on the famous Diani Beach, with meals and drinks all covered. Includes 2 daily game drives on safari.

Call Classic Resorts on 0818 332 515 or contact your local travel agent.

All offers correct at time of going to press and subject to availability.

Three winter walks from CaminoWays

CaminoWays are offering three winter walks in the Canary islands, Italy and Portugal Volcanic La Gomera, Canary Islands. Available all year round. Duration: 7 nights. Price: from E785 per person sharing. Distance: 95kms, Medium plus difficulty La Gomera island is one of the Canaries best kept secrets with amazing trails, breath taking volcanic scenery and balmy temperatures all year round. With average temperatures around 20C from November to February, La Gomera is a hiker’s paradise and perfect for a winter walking escape. More details on this trip can be found at TrekkingBug.com Cinque Terre, Italy. Available all year round. Duration: 5 nights. Price: E490 per person sharing. Distance: 45kms, Medium difficulty Cinque Terre, in the Italian Riviera, is possibly the most spectacular coastal walk in Europe. Five colourful medieval villages perched over the Mediterranean Sea make up the Cinque Terre National Park. More details on this trip at FrancigenaWays.com Via Algarviana, Algarve, Portugal. Available all year round. Duration: Up to 15 nights. Price: E1386 per person sharing. Distance: 300kms, Medium plus difficulty Hikers on the Via Algarviana trail in Southern Portugal will discover a very different and wild Algarve. Away from the popular coastal resorts, the Via Algarviana paths cross natural parks, pine forests and friendly little villages. Average temperatures of 15C in the winter months are perfect for hiking this fascinating and rural part of the More details on this winter walk at CaminoWays.com.

Budapest Spend 2 nights’ in the 5* Sofitel Budapest on a B&B basis from only E260pp.

Price includes: Return flights ex. Dublin, 2 nights’ accommodation as stated, taxes and charges. Travel: 6th December 2018 Munich Spend 2 nights’ in the 4* Grand Hotel Palladium on a B&B basis from only E180pp.

Price includes: Return flights ex. Dublin, 2 nights’ accommodation as stated, taxes and charges. Travel: 14th December 2018 For more information or to book visit www.gohop.ie or call 01-2412389.

Two new Aer Lingus North America routes

There are now 15 ways to the USA and Canada as Aer Lingus announced two new North American destinations for summer 2019 - Minneapolis-St. Paul and Montreal, Canada. Aer Lingus will commence flying direct from Dublin to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and from Dublin direct to Trudeau International Airport (YUL) in summer 2019.

The two new destinations will add a quarter of million additional seats annually to Aer Lingus’ transatlantic network which already comprises 2.8m seats annually between Ireland and North America.

Located on the banks of the Mississippi River in Midwest US, the twin city of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota joins Montreal, the largest city in Canada’s French-Canadian Quebec province, as the 14th and 15th North American destinations on Aer Lingus’ expanding transatlantic network[1]. Today’s announcement is a further demonstration of Aer Lingus’ mission to be the leading value carrier across the North Atlantic.

Famed for its French heritage, the city of Montreal is the second largest French-speaking city in the world after Paris, but it also has a strong Irish connection. In fact, the city’s coat of arms displays a clover in recognition of the large Irish community and history within the region.

Ryanair to launch three new services from Cork Airport

Ryanair have announced another new route to their extensive network from Cork Airport with a new twice-weekly service to Poznan commencing in March 2019, which will be part of Ryanair’s summer 2019 schedule. In addition, Ryanair will also launch a new service to London Luton. The six-times-weekly service has been announced as part of Ryanair’s winter 2018 schedule and will commence on 28th October.

G Adventures and National Geographic Expeditions expand their small-group destinations for 2019 The new and updated tours for 2019 include : Highlights of Bolivia (8 days, from E1,699.) - Explore the historic capital of Sucre and sky-high La Paz, then experience life at a traditional hacienda among the Jukil community before watching the sunset from atop Uyuni Salt Flats.

GoHop Christmas shopping breaks

Peru & Bolivia: Machu Picchu to the Salt Flats (16 days, from €3,399.)

- Learn about Peru’s former Inca capital of Cusco before an Amazon jungle immersion. HIke the Inca Trail, or catch the scenic train, then pass into Bolivia to explore soaring Andean peaks and the famed Uyunni Salt Flats.

Prague Spend 2 nights’ in the 5* Hotel Corinthia Prague on a B&B basis from E249pp.

Price includes: Return flights ex. Dublin, 2 nights’ accommodation as stated, taxes and charges. Travel: 6th December 2018

Explore Northern Peru (9 days, from E2,149.) - Immerse yourself in the Chachapoyas culture and take a cable car ride up to Kuelup Fortress.

Hike through the cloud forest to the Gocta waterfall, then explore tombs from pre-Inca Moche culture. Wander through the adobe brick city of Chan Chan.

Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 101

TRAVELLERS CHECK Explore Northern Peru & Machu Picchu (16 days, from E3,479.) Discover traces of pre-Inca cultures in lesser-visited northern Peru, including the mountaintop home of past “Cloud Warriors;” and the eroded adobe ruins of Chan Chan. Round out your exploration of Peru’s fascinating past with an early morning guided visit to magnificent Machu Picchu.

Iconic Portugal & Spain (15 days, from E2,999.) - Follow the fortified wine shipping route in Porto, learn from a local historian’s tour of Toledo, stand in awe of the Moorish Alhambra and see the colorful streets of Seville in this blend of architecture, history and culture.

Hungary & Romania Highlights (8 days, from E1,699.) - Learn about Budapest’s historic highlights during a guided walk. Visit castles and fortified structures. Prepare a traditional meal with a local chef, and immerse yourself in the haunting past of Transylvania’s Bran Castle in this tour that focuses on history, culture, myth and legends.

Discover Central & Eastern Europe (16 days, from E3,399.) - On this journey through parts of Germany, Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic, walk sections of the old Berlin Wall with a historian, visit Egerszalok’s salt springs and water terraces, and dip into thermal bath house waters in Budapest.

For details and a listing of new trips, contact your travel agent, call 0344 272 2040, or visit: gadventures.com/NGJ-2019

Dawson Travel are offering a value package to Fatima in December

Shopping breaks from American Holidays.

New York Spend 4 nights in the 3* Beacon Hotel from only E609pp.

Price includes: Return direct flights ex. Dublin, 4 nights’ accommodation as stated, taxes and charges. Based on four adults sharing.

Travel: December 2018 Ref No: 1582238 Boston Spend 4 nights in the 3* Midtown Hotel Boston from only E690pp.

Price includes: Return flights ex. Dublin, 4 nights’ accommodation as stated, taxes and charges. Based on two adults sharing.

Travel: December 2018 Ref No: 1576863 Chicago Spend 4 nights in the 3* Felix Hotel Chicago from only €699pp.

Price includes: Return flights ex. Dublin, 4 nights’ accommodation as stated, taxes and charges. Based on two adults sharing.

Travel: December 2018 Ref No: 51228823 Washington Spend 4 nights in 3* Fairfax at Embassy Row from only E671pp.

Price includes: Return flights ex. Dublin, 4 nights’ accommodation as stated, taxes and charges. Based on two adults sharing.

Travel: December 2018 Ref No: 2007647893 Call American Holidays to book on 01 673 3804 .For more information visit www.americanholidays.com.

African choice from The Safari expert Namibia Classic Self Drive Safari from E3,329pp.

A trip into the desert, a few days at the seaside, archaeology, wildlife activity and big cat conservation are the main highlights. Namibia is a country of huge blue skies, endless horizons, spectacular sand dunes, a harsh but beautiful coastline, and teeming game reserves.

Price includes: Meet and greet services in Windhoek with pre-tour briefing & detailed travel digest, arrival transfer in Windhoek, 13 Days Group “K”, Mitsubishi ASX or similar vehicle rental, all relevant vehicle rental fees, meals, drinks and accommodation as specified.

Please note international flights are not included but will be priced on application to ensure the best rates.

Ref No: TSENTT02

Fatima, Portugal, 7 nights, 12th Dec, from E234pps Enjoy a stay in Portugal this December with this value package from Dawson Travel. Centrally located in the city of Fátima, guests staying in Hotel Genesis will find themselves just moments away from cultural and historical attractions such as Basilica of the Santissima Trinidade.

Taste the delicious local and international specialities as you discover the wide range of restaurants and cafés in one of Europe’s most famous regions for food. Take in the scenery as Lisbon’s trademark hills are spread across the cityscape, overlooking cobbled alleyways and ancient ruins crafted over hundreds of years.

Price includes: 7 night stay in 3* Hotel Genesis, room only basis, flights ex Dublin. For more information on this offer from Dawson Travel, visit: http://itaa.ie/2018/09/14/lisbon-portugal-3/ 102 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

Cape Town, Winelands, Garden Route and Eastern Cape Safari from E2,039pp.

Start your trip with a visit to the vibrant city of Cape Town, within easy driving distance of the valleys of Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, which have become known as ‘The Winelands’. Travel further east towards the Garden Route, before ending your trip perfectly with a “Big 5” Safari in the malaria-free Eastern Cape.

Price includes: Accommodation (based on availability at the time of quotation), car hire, all meals and drinks as indicated, all wildlife viewing by 4X4 vehicle shared with other guests, driven by a highly qualified naturalist guide, all applicable hotel and lodge taxes, transfers as specified in the itinerary.

Please note international flights are not included but will be priced on application to ensure the best rates.

For more information or to book visit www.thesafariexpert.com or call the experts on 01-2412389.

Are there green shoots appearing?

Yes, there are!

For more information: EDITOR Gerry Daly - (01) 204 7722 ADVERTISING Jane and Lyn - 086 839 5179

Western Ways George Keegan on happenings along the Western Seaboard in travel, arts, food and entertainment

Stargazing in North West Mayo

As a child I remember listening to a BBC radio programme called ‘Journey Into Space’ written

by Charles Chilton with the voices of Andrew Faulds as Jet, Alfi Bass as Lemmy, Guy Kingsley Poynter as Doc and David Williams as Mitch. I was totally absorbed in the happenings of these characters as they raced through space. Later in my teenage years I vividly recall climbing before dawn to the highest point in the Co.Monaghan town where I grew up to watch the satellite ‘Sputnik 1 ’ journey across a sky filled with twinkling stars from one horizon to the other. There was the thrill of standing out in the cold night air and the excitement when the satellite appeared.

So began my fascination with the Night Sky. Sadly as the years moved on more and more light pollution became the norm and opportuni-

ties to view the Milky Way in all its glory or the various planets became a rare occurrence.

This was and is especially true if living in a city or town or even in many rural areas.

The good news is that since 2016 in Co.Mayo along the Wild Atlantic Way the opportunity to once again spend time stargazing without light pollution of any kind has become a reality with the opening of the Mayo Dark Sky Park.

The story of the Park began three years earlier when Georgia MacMillan and partner Ged were studying at GMIT in Castlebar. They decided to try and organise an area which could be used for stargazing and it quickly became apparent that the best location was in the proximity of the Wild Nephin Wilderness and Ballycroy National Park. Having acquired the

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approval of Mayo County Council and State agencies they began their research into the project. Firstly visits were made to similar parks in Galloway, Scotland and in Wales to examine exactly how they worked.

Then Trinity College came on board by agreeing to lend them special sky quality meters with which they amassed over 40,000 readings from several locations within the 15,000 hectare site where the park would be located. The readings included best and worst scenarios regarding cloud cover, bright moonlight nights etc.

In 2015 a steering committee was set up to continue work on the overall project. One year later in early 2016 an application was submit

by ensuring that light pollution is kept under control.

Dark Sky Festival The next big step was setting up an annual Dark Sky Festival. The first year 2016 was a small beginning Georgia points out, “we held it in Newport and it was based on just astronomy and science. The following year it was expanded to three communities , Newport, Mulranny and Ballycroy with many more events taking place”.

Useful web sites www.mayodarkskypark.ie www.mayodarkskyfestival.ie www.ballycroynationalpark.ie www.terrafirmaireland.com www.kerrydarksky.com .

The third Mayo Dark Sky Festival hosted by the Friends of Mayo Dark Skies will take place next month (2nd-4th November) also around Newport, Mulranny and Ballycroy. Some events are ticketed but several are free and there is no entry fee for children under 16 years when accompanied by a paying adult. “The Festival is now very much a family friendly event with lots of activities for children to enjoy such as torchlight walks with storytelling and magic, children’s science workshops and a mobile Planetarium”, Georgia told me.

Other events include an exhibition and talk by scientific illustrator Pierre Carril from France who specialises in astronomy and astronautics , a class about Astro photography by award winning photographer Brian Wilson, plus of course guided night sky walks for stargazing.

As part of the Heritage Council’s ‘Europe For Culture’ programme the group recently ran a community project to collect and record stories, folklore and superstitions relating to the night sky in Ireland. The public were invited to send in local stories and collected works which will be collated into a published record.

Photographs by Brian Wilson ted to the International Dark-Sky Association based in the USA at Tucson Arizona who set a very high criteria before deciding to issue such a recognition. Georgia says the team were overwhelmed by the support received from the local Minister, TDs, Mayo Co.Co., Ballycroy National Park, Coillte, and the community.

On 4th May 2016 they received confirmation that Mayo Dark Sky Park had been designated as a Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park, the highest possible accolade. This award cannot be over emphasised because the process of being officially certified is modelled along the same lines as UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Biosphere Reserves. It meant Mayo became internationally recognised as one of the best places in the world to view the night sky.

Since then the project has gone from strength to strength with 2 astronomy clubs formed and many educational and science based projects taking place on a regular basis. It has also been a major boost for off season tourism in the region.

There are just a 100 of these protected areas around the world with 10 in the UK. Now there are two in Ireland and for a small country this is quite an achievement. The second Dark Sky location is in South West Kerry which is an International Dark Sky Reserve, a slightly different concept but equally important .It opened in 2014 and contains 700 sq kilometres covering nine regions. There is a Core Zone with completely dark sky plus a Buffer Zone which although inhabited protects the Core

Terra Firma Hiking and Stargazing Georgia and Ged have set up a company offering daytime tours and hikes around Mayo called’ Terra Firma’. While itineraries have been designed for local hotel packages these can be tailored to individual needs. All hikes are with experienced mountain leaders. They also organise stargazing tours and dark sky safaris in the Mayo Dark Sky Park. Participants on all excursions travel in a comfortable 16 seater minibus.

Airside updates: Shannon Airport: Ryanair will operate an all year round service to Alicante starting next month. The airline has also announced a twice weekly Ibiza route for summer 2019 commencing next April. For 2019 the airport will have 8 services to Spanish sun holiday destinations.

Ireland West Airport: The successful route to Bristol operated by Ryanair is to go year round.

Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 105

Genealogy

Using and understanding 1901 and 1911 online census records

Tom Quinlan explains Of all the archival sources of information available to those with an interest in genealogy, census records – a survey and enumeration of all people and households at a designated point in time - are perhaps the most valuable and frequently used.

A nation’s official census of population constitutes the most complete periodic survey of information about a country’s people that government makes. Because the aim is to include everybody, the returns of information made to government provide a detailed and comprehensive snapshot of an entire population, where the same type of information has been collected on everyone at the same point in time.

Although a census is undertaken for the primary purpose of providing government with essential information on the people who make up the nation, one of the secondary uses of census return forms is by those engaged in research of their ancestors. And few richer seams of quality information on people are to be found.

A census was taken in Ireland every ten years from 1821 until 1911. No census was taken in 1921 because of the disturbed state of the county during the War of Independence. Decennial census resumed in 1926 in those twenty- six counties that comprised the Irish Free State and a census subsequently taken in 1936 and 1946. The pattern of collection then changed and a census was taken in 1951, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1979 (the census due in 1976 was cancelled as an economy measure), 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2002, 2006, 2011 and 2016.

The State body charged with the collection and analysis of census in Ireland is the Central Statistics Office. However, before haring off in that direction to hunt for elusive ancestors in its raw data, remember that census records are closed to public access for 100 years from the date

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on which the census was taken. This means that the latest census to which there is public access is the 1911 census.

Unfortunately, most of the census returns for 1821 to 1851 were destroyed by fire and explosion in the former Public Record Office of Ireland during bombardment of the Four Courts, where the PROI was situated, at the commencement of the Civil War. Only a small quantity of returns now survives for certain portions of counties and for certain years as follows: Antrim, 1851; Belfast city (one ward only), 1851; Cavan, 1821 and 1841; Cork, 1841; Dublin city (index to heads of household only), 1851; Fermanagh, 1821, 1841 and 1851; Galway, 1813 (numerical returns for Longford barony) and 1821; King’s County (Offaly), 1821; Londonderry (Derry), 1831–34; Meath, 1821; Waterford, 1841.

So what about the census taken at ten-year intervals from 1861 to 1911?

The original census returns for 1861 and 1871 were destroyed shortly after each census was taken and the statistical reports compiled and published, while those for 1881 and 1891 were destroyed at the end of First World War in 1918. The census for 1901 and for 1911 now held in the National Archives are therefore the only complete Irish census accessible to the public. The surviving records cover all of Ireland and not only comprise the census return forms in which data was recorded, collated and summarised by census enumerators, but also the original individual household census return forms filled out and signed by the head of each household on census night. The 1901 census was taken on 31st March 1901 and the 1911 census on 2 April 1911.

For readers of Senior Times new to genealogy, it is probably surprising to learn that the census for 1901 and 1911 have been available and searchable online at http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/ for less than a decade. Before this, anybody who wanted to use these invaluable archives either had to visit the National Archives Reading Room to access original census returns or else order copies by post. In both

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Genealogy instances, the family historian had to be armed with information as to an ancestor’s address to have any possibility of finding census returns of potential research relevance.

The need to know an ancestor’s address for success in census research was due to the physical arrangement of the original records, which is alphabetically by county, then grouped by district electoral division. Within the records for each district electoral division, files of census returns are arranged by name of townland or town and street.

Putting the census returns online in the form of digital images of the original returns, with indexing of census data to facilitate online searching and retrieval of specific returns, revolutionised accessibility. It enabled anybody to perform the most simple of searches with a piece of information as basic as a family surname and to have presented a list of all families bearing that name, with links to other more detailed information on those families and to the digital image of the original census household return, as well as related enumerator census returns.

So, what are the census forms that can be accessed online and what kind of information do they contain?

The most useful relevant form for anybody doing family history is Form A, which is the census return for each household recording each member of the family and any visitors, boarders or servants. It was completed and signed by the head of the household. Information recorded on each individual resident in a household on census night 1901 or 1911 is name, age, sex, relationship to head of the household, religion, occupation, marital status, county or country of birth. Also recorded is information on an individual’s literacy and ability to speak the Irish language, and whether deaf, dumb, blind, idiot, imbecile or lunatic. Form A for 1911 also records the number of years for which women had been married, where relevant, and the number of children born alive and the number still living.

For the family historian, the information in Form A can be usefully supplemented with that recorded by the census enumerator on Form B1, which is a return of houses and buildings inhabited by each family in a townland or street. Form B1 provides information on the nature and class or standard of the building in which the family lived.

The enumerator was required to identify the material from which the house was built (stone/brick/concrete or mud/wood or other perishable material) and to allocate the respective numerical value of either 1 or 0 based on this. Similarly, the type of material used in the roof construction was scored as either 1 - if slate, tiles or metal was used - or as 0 - if thatch, wood or other perishable material was used. Numerical values were assigned by the enumerator to indicate the number of rooms occupied by the household and the precise number of windows in the front of the house was recorded. Based on the total of these values, the house was scored by the enumerator as either a 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th class dwelling.

The enumerator even recorded the name of the landholder on whose property the dwelling house was situated and, where different from the name of the householder, this indicates whether the property was owner-occupied or rented.

Use of Form B1 in conjunction with Form B2, which is a return of out-buildings attached to a dwelling house that identifies stables, coach houses, cow houses, dairies, piggeries, barns etc. can be used to provide not only an important insight into the living conditions of all members of a particular household listed on the Form A household return, including the quality of accommodation, the appearance of the house in which the household lived, but also the relative prosperity of a household where such distinct buildings as coach houses, stables and dairies can be identified.

Finally, the census enumerator’s abstract, Form N, gives details of the number of houses in a street or townland, and the number of occupants of each house, broken down by sex. The form also tells you the religious denominations present in each household. It provides information on the

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wider context in which a particular household was situated.

It is important to bear in mind that not all people recorded in the 1901 or 1911 census are to be found on the standard household Form A return.

Occupants of various institutions, for example, barracks, ships, workhouses, hospitals, colleges, orphanages, etc. were recorded on separate forms as follows: • Form B3: Shipping return.

• Form E: Workhouse return.

• Form F: Hospital return.

• Form G: College and Boarding-School return.

• Form H: Barrack return.

• Form I: Return of Idiots and Lunatics in institutions.

• Form K: Prison return.

People in institutions on census night were recorded only by their initials.

Thus, Mary Smith will be listed only as M.S. or John Murphy as J.M. Is the online census easy to search? As mentioned, putting the census online revolutionised access. It allowed the family historian to search census data to find returns for named individuals who had hitherto remained hidden.

The National Archives census website at http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/ can be searched in two ways: by name or by geographic location. However, the less precise the information entered in the search boxes, the more numerous the results that have to be sifted through.

It is important to remember that the census data has been indexed as the names were written into the original census form. Spellings have not been corrected.

The basic topographical divisions for the census are: county; district electoral division; townland or street. This is a simple hierarchical structure which makes it easy to access returns for any area in the country.

The returns are arranged in clusters by townland/street within district electoral division within county.

For anybody unsure of the townland or street the person sought lived in, browsing can be done within a district electoral division of a county, which contains numbers of townlands or streets. The browse function allows searching for someone through location, and to view households surrounding that of an ancestor. It also allows for studies of particular districts.

For those who search online and get too many results, it is possible to •

• •

add any extra information in the relevant search boxes, such as age, sex, townland, street; try alternative spellings of the name; type the street/townland name into the relevant box where this is known, and it will locate all the occupants of that street/ townland.

For those who search online and get no results, this could be due to a number of factors: •

•

•

•

The name could be spelled differently, so variations of spelling or a wildcard search should be tried.

The person may not have lived where you think, so searching the name without any geographic information should be tried.

The person sought may not have been in Ireland on census night.

The person you are seeking may have been in an institution, and only listed under their initials.

Happy hunting!

Tom Quinlan is Keeper, Collection Care and Customer Service, National Archives. www.nationalarchives.ie www.census.nationalarchives.ie

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Short story

A retired morning in Rathmines

By Evelyn Conlon

John Hanley was a slightly pudgy man who lived in Rathmines in Dublin six. He was not aware of this, his pudginess – obviously he was aware that he was John Hanley and that he lived in Rathmines. On a side street, offering him both the quietness of the cul de sac and the promise of the thoroughfare, although he’d noticed recently that promise was becoming less important to him than it used to be. And yet sometimes a loud laugh would drift in from the main street, filling the air with an orchestra of hope, and it was then that he was glad he still lived here. Glad he hadn’t succumbed out to the suburbs where you could have a proper garden for your retirement and you, unfortunately, recognized everyone you saw in a day. Or worse still hadn’t sold up like a fool and launched out to Spain where he would have had to say every day that no he was not English, Irish, I’m Irish, and no it’s not the same thing. His friend, James Martin had done that, was now tanned and miserable and had taken to speaking as gaeilge so that no-one would mistake him for his neighbours. James had stopped coming home too, because people insisted on telling him how much profit his old house actually made the last time it changed hands. The fact that that was all now changed, all that empty bluster about house prices, was neither here nor there because he’d got out of the habit of visiting. But in another way he was doing well – when the locals lost their rags with too much drink and shouted at each other he didn’t know what their curses meant.

The world’s a queer place, thought John Hanley, all this living and learning and the earth could be sucked up into the sun any time now. Of course this was not scientifically true, but John fancied some days that it was, and that it was silently happening faster than you would think. This was one of those days, and he would have to do something now or he’d be in a right gloom by the time Moira came in from the shops, where she would have bought the day’s essentials, maybe got library books, and gathered up whatever news might be cheerful - that he had to hand to her, like the blue bower bird she only picked up bright bits, not like some of the women around here who walked by his window in the mornings, quick-stepped, straight backed, and came past again two hours later, shoulders dropped, with a thunderous gloom weaving in and out of their auras.

He jumped up to switch off the radio. The proper news programme had just finished and the airwaves were about to be drenched by people 110 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

who were thought famous because someone other than their mothers knew their names. For the next two hours they would join up the dots of a conspiracy of blandness and would be knee deep in the tyranny of banality by the time the Angelus was rung. The listeners would then scratch themselves and think that another morning was over and nothing learned. While he was up switching off the radio he decided to go to his desk in the corner of the room and root through the untidy patch, find somewhere to bury his rising cantankerousness. After his retirement Moira had established this desk for him, although she had always had this corner sanctified by her cupboard of wineglasses. She looked a lot healthier since he had retired, and James sometimes thought that perhaps she had been secretly drinking this past decade, and now that he was here all day and she could no longer do that, her liver was radiating a new glow, much like the earth will when it realises that it really is being sucked into the sun. It is amazing how much time there is to think when you’re out of an office. No wonder the men who didn’t take up golf took up drink, up in Slatterys or over in Birchalls. Not him of course, he had plenty to do, weaving in and out around Moira’s day and doings.

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Short story The first thing that he found was the bundle of post holiday paraphernalia. Ah, now here was something he could get stuck into, sort the maps, ship prices, most interesting routes, boat timetables, satisfactory hotels – always impressed Moira that, when he found the right hotel. You really never could tell with women, so delighted by the easiest of things and on the other hand erupting like acidulated hurricanes about minor lapses.

Maybe there was a code to it, a dictionary of distress, maybe it had something to do with the orbit of their memories, the fact that they over explained the colour of their clothes but kept their mouths shut about the real terror of their lives, whatever that might be. John didn’t know, and in all honesty didn’t want to.

Now there was that Swallow Hotel Questionnaire. They had been coming back from France, wending themselves up through England, getting ready for Holyhead. They had lost their way to the normal bleak clean Welsh guesthouse, so they had ventured in the door of what looked like a place that might be too expensive. But no, the price was fine and something in the way the receptionist flicked her pen, made Moira say, ‘this is perfect’ It had to be the pen, because nothing else had happened before Moira said, this is perfect.

What did you think of the Outside Appearance of the hotel? It was dark so we didn’t see.

Service at check in? That would have to be excellent, despite his feelings about the word, there was the matter of the flicking pen.

Overall cleanliness? Well Moira had said nothing.

Heating, was it noisy? It wasn’t on. You’d think they could have two different questionnaires, one for summer and one for winter.

Comfort of bed? Pillow a bit rickety but possible to manoeuvre.

Condition of furniture? Grand as far as I can remember but it is three months ago.

And then a lot of automatic ‘Very Goods’.

Would you recommend this hotel to friends? Certainly not, keep it quiet, no point in the neighbours knowing, it’s holidays we’re on.

Accuracy of Billing? Or, did they try to rip you off when you weren’t looking.

In France they had nudged their ways appropriately into past experiences, but diverged into new things when regret began to colour the hours.

They agreed, without discussion, on the ways to do this, such a strange thing –what can be understood without verbals, a lot like our knowledge of facts without the science. And the new things could be anything, phonographic museums, houses of dead writers, gardens of strange plants. They had wandered into a lecture on Islamic music, and because the audience was small they could not leave. John had settled himself in such a way that his legs would not throb and had started doing lists of similar experiences – an experimental Hamlet in Italian - Moira had got the wrong tickets - poetry in Hebrew, the flyer had said an Israeli writer, nothing about the Hebrew, long long Connemara songs and the best, Mass in Latin. The Koran looks like sheet music. And John did think that life should be a bundle of continuous learning. He dismissed the voice that plucked away at the south western side of his brain, harping out, ‘ do you not know enough, can you not let God take over now’. In no time at all the lecture was finished.

The Swallow Hotel Questionnaire beseeched him to fill in the measure of his contentment with their premises. There were four square boxes to be ticked, each one eighth of an inch by one eighth of an inch, obviously if they were square, he said to himself. They were headed Excellent, not a word that delighted him because it had been flogged to death a number of years ago. There was also Very Good, Good and Poor. There wasn’t one called Middling, never was with these things, he thought, but that was alright in this instance.

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Value received? It depends.

By the time John got to Other Comments he was away with it, breast stroking in deep pleasure.

Dear Manager.

Look, it was all great. Even though we had got lost and were late the barman made us a fresh sandwich. There was a fine wine for my wife, she even remarked on the cut of the glass, like one she used to have herself, before it got broken, kept in the cupboard where my desk now is. The Speckled Hen Bitter was as good as I’ve ever had, indeed I can taste it this minute. We were having a great night. But here I must tell you of something that happened which I’m not very happy about, and that I know you won’t mind me bringing it up. Now, how will I put this.

In a room off your foyer there was a noisy group of people, manageable noisy, I thought or hoped. However, every now and then some of them would saunter out to our bar and raucously order rounds of spirits. The men’s ties were all crooked and the women were speaking in a manner that did not fit in with the clothes they were wearing. They would then, I can only say, lorry these drinks into their throats with the result that the volume of their outpourings rose in alarming notches. Luckily they would then dribble back to their own bar. When we thought we’d seen

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Short story

the last of them we decided to have a quiet nightcap. What happened then was, I think, quite shocking. A woman emerged in a wedding dress, teetering dangerously on stiletto heels. It was one of those dresses that had no sleeves, nor indeed any discernible top. It was hard to make out where her shoulders ended and the next part of her body, so to speak, began. She peered over at my wife and I, but I swear she couldn’t see us.

She then sallied brazenly forth to three men who were, I presume, on a business journey and relaxing in each others proper company before the next day’s drive. They raised their eyes to her – they had no choice – and the lifting up of their faces gave her some sort of hades like signal to burst into the most offensively private thoughts that I have ever heard uttered.

She concluded that it was a peculiar thing really, that this morning she hadn’t been married at all and now she was. As she swayed over her shoes I thought what a better place marriage might have been if it had not admitted her. We were all in shock. She then complained that most of her guests were already in bed and wondered why. We didn’t. Now, you see, the trouble about this intrusion was not only the disgrace of it, but that it put us in mind of our own wedding days, and what stately affairs they were in comparison. And although you may think that that should have made us grateful, it also unsettled our pleasant nightcap. We were, after all, about to go to our beds, and although I know that technically you may not think that the nighttime retirements of your guests has anything to do with you, they are a part of your package. I will say no more on that issue because if you don’t get embarrassed I will. But really, this letting loose of a drunk bride into our bar was extremely disturbing. She then disappeared back to her quarters, much to our relief. The three men and the two of us tried not to look at each other, but, in truth, the gratifying anonymous space between us had been muddied. We were silent for a while, trying to gather our evening back to ourselves, when lo and behold the entire party spilled out from several corners, straight on top of us again. Now you may be finding the geography of the evening a bit confusing, not realizing that you have as many entrances into the bar as 114 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

you do have, but bear with me, or indeed, go stand just to your left of the front desk and look around you. The party surrounded us. I then noticed the groom and hoped that he might bring some order to the tone but he looked shell shocked and had nothing to say. He too began to sway back and forth on his flat shoes. The bride, for that is what I will still call her, raucously slapped the poor groom on the back and guffawed, ‘imagine, guaranteed sex every night’. The guests, all of them, erupted into what I can only say was the sound you would expect from a Breugel painting.

We, I’m afraid, had no choice but to leave our unfinished drinks and repair to our room. Now, I know, as I’ve alluded to, that you may not like me bringing this up, but really I think you should bear this sort of incident in mind and do whatever it takes to avoid a recurrence. In the interests of all your guests and the smooth running of your establishment, of course.

There.

John let his pen waver dangerously over the form. He was wondering if he should add more to this, and was indeed searching for a blank page, when he was suddenly overcome with sadness. He looked out his window and rested his eyes on the tree that they had saved from the builders, and he longed for Moira to be finished the shopping. But then a mysterious thing happened, the tree shook itself, like a dog after getting out of the sea. From nowhere a feeling of forgiveness spread over him like a blush and he put aside the questionnaire.

The Rathmines clock jolted him as it rang out its exact time, daringly, into the late autumn air. Moira opened the door and the sound of a foghorn slithered in with her. John closed the desk and got up to help her.

‘What did you do?’ she asked.

‘Nothing,’ he said, and never mentioned the earth being sucked into the sun.

Health

Why influenza zaps your strength A new study shows that people with influenza have reduced levels of coenzyme Q10, a vitamin-like compound, which all cells need for energy production.

The flu can really zap your energy, and now we may know why.

According to a new study published in the journal Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses, people with flu have lower blood levels of coenzyme Q10 and elevated levels of certain inflammatory compounds. The study was conducted by scientists from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts and compared coenzyme Q10 levels in 50 patients with influenza and 29 healthy controls.

Needed for energy One of coenzyme Q10’s primary functions is to help cells produce energy, so a Q10 deficiency is likely to lead to low energy levels and lethargy.

What is more, all body functions require coenzyme Q10 - in particular immune defence - which consumes massive amounts of energy to protect the body.

Vital for the heart Coenzyme Q10 also has a profound role in heart health, which is unsurprising when you think of the amount of energy required to fuel the heart muscle 24/7. Studies have shown that supplements of coenzyme Q10 can help boost heart function in healthy older people, as well as in people with chronic heart failure.

the cardiac function and improved quality of life in general. The 2014 Q-Symbio study further demonstrated that daily supplementation with coenzyme Q10 lowered by 43% the mortality rate among 420 patients with chronic heart failure. In this study, the scientists also observed that the supplement helped the heart muscle contract with greater force.

54% fewer deaths

Depletes with age

In the renowned 2013 KiSel-10 study, daily supplementation with coenzyme Q10 (coupled with selenium) lowered the risk of cardiovascular death by a staggering 54% among healthy, older Swedish men and women. The scientists could clearly see how the supplements boosted

The body produces its own coenzyme Q10, but our endogenous production starts to taper off in our twenties. As we grow older, levels continue to deplete, making supplementation vital for energy production, immune health and general wellbeing as we age.

Senior Times l October - November 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 115

Golf

Hogan’s Heroes

According to locals, the main changes in Dublin from a one-time poor area of small farmers to its opulent, new status, stemmed largely from the decision of Jack Nicklaus to build his dream golf complex there, a venture which almost reduced him to penury.

Dermot Gilleece on the golfing roots of another celebrated Dublin..in Ohio Though it may have escaped the uninitiated, Dublin happens to hold a rather distinguished place in the international golf scene. And it goes some way beyond the little-known fact that at a distance of less than three kilometres from O’Connell Street, Clontarf’s location is the closest of any golf club in the world to the centre of a capital city.

Dublin’s importance in the game is considerably enhanced by the fact that the Irish version is not the only one of the species. For years, those of us with more than a passing interest in the giants of the game, would have been aware of Dublin, Texas as the birthplace of Ben Hogan.

In his splendid book Hogan, Curt Sampson informs us that ‘Dublin is a simple, peaceful town of three to four thousand, near the geographical centre of Texas, about eighty miles southwest of Fort Worth.’ He further tells us that one of the founding fathers was a certain G W O’Neal, ‘who might have been honouring the capital city of his native Ireland when he named the place around 1858.’ And intriguingly, Sampson adds: ‘The Hogans were Irish, too.’

While those of a mind to were dining out on Hogan’s home place and Irish roots, the international image of Dublin was further enhanced in 1987, when Europe’s Ryder Cup team set about defending the trophy 116 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

Dublin, Texas the birthplace of Ben Hogan.

they had secured two years previously at The Belfry on the outskirts of Birmingham. That was when I was afforded the opportunity of researching Dublin roots further north on the American continent.

Looking back 31 years, I can still recall the strange sensation of being driven along a dual-carriageway from the airport of Columbus, Ohio in late September of that year, picking out the road signs for Dublin. And when the taxi driver enquired as to what part of the world I hailed from, I couldn’t resist the rather superior reply that I was from the real Dublin, in Ireland.

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Golf

A huge crowd around the 18th green at Muirfield Village Golf Club during the Memorial Tournament.

As things turned out, the good folk of Dublin, Ohio, had reason for special pride at that particular time, not simply because of the Ryder Cup. The fact was that the townland, situated about 10 miles from the centre of the state capital, Columbus, had been accorded city status that very month.

Apparently it had been a fairly quiet affair, which took the form of an intimate gathering of Dublin officials and their relations and friends in a local hotel. The polite and proud exchanges would appear to have been some way removed from the image conveyed by a middle-aged female member of the staff at Muirfield Village Golf Club, who observed: ‘When I was growing up, you just didn’t date a guy from Dublin.’In a way, it sounded like something you’d hear from an over-protective parent from my own native place!

My initial enquiries as to the origin of the naming of Dublin, Ohio, brought an intriguing explanation which proved to be totally erroneous. I was told that it derived from the location of two inns situated on the townland where, over time, two inns became double-inn before being corrupted eventually to Dublin. A smiling and decidedly helpful local librarian, however, totally rejected this notion. Her records showed that the townland was named by a certain John Shields, a native of Dublin, Ireland, who emigrated to Ohio around 1800.

Apparently Shields was a surveyor by profession and was employed by land-owner, John Sells, to chart the land. When Sells asked him to give the area a name, he was drawn to his native city and the similarity he saw between the Scioto River which bordered the land, and his beloved Anna Livia Plurabelle.

Its elevation to city status happened on September 1st 1987 when the recorded population reached 3,855 inhabitants. This prompted an official application to be lodged in nearby Columbus, whereby the town hall became the city hall, effectively overnight.

According to locals, the main changes in Dublin from a one-time poor area of small farmers to its opulent, new status, stemmed largely from the decision of Jack Nicklaus to build his dream golf complex there, a venture, incidentally, which almost reduced him to penury. Work on Muirfield Village began in 1972, was completed two years later and was crowned by the launch of the Memorial Tournament in 1976. Its success, from a purely golfing standpoint, can be gauged from the fact that the Memorial had its 43rd successive staging in May of this year.

Incidentally, the previous occasion that the Ryder Cup had been staged in Ohio was in 1931 at the Scioto Country Club. Twenty years later, on the same course, an 11-year-old by the name of Jack William Nicklaus made his first, tentative attempts at the game of golf and stepped into history by covering nine holes in 52 strokes.

The return visit, this time by a European rather than a British line-up, was done in some style, given that the team, which included Ireland’s Eamonn Darcy, travelled from London by Concorde. As an indication of European togetherness, the 35-year-old from Delgany was accommodated in a luxury villa in the company of Spaniards, Seve Ballesteros, Jose Rivero, and Scotland’s Sandy Lyle and Gordon Brand Jnr. In the event, by way of marking the occasion, the pilot decided to buzz the Muirfield Village course but got confused with two other courses in the Columbus area with the result that he made three attempts in all. Which manoeuvres had a decidedly unnerving effect on Ballesteros, who exclaimed excitedly: ‘This is like a jo-jo [yo-yo].’

Dublin’s welcoming party was also quite special. A convoy of more than 30 white Cadillacs brought the European party from the airport to Muirfield Village where further formalities included a meeting between the respective captains, Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin. For the remainder of the day, hordes of sightseers went in the other direction to try and get a close-up of Concorde.

118 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

Jack Nicklaus

Meanwhile, the American media left Nicklaus in no doubt as to their expectations of his team.

One leading commentator observed: ‘Up to now, those Americans who had heard of the Ryder Cup, thought it was a pro-am sponsored by a trucking company. Of course in Britain it is bigger than Wimbledon and World War II put together. This year, however, it will be BIG in America.’ Alas, while Darcy played a heroic role, a national sporting hero was to lead his team to the country’s first-ever Ryder Cup defeat on home soil.

Decades earlier, the good citizens of Dublin, Texas, were concerned more about home affairs. In their edition of July 8th 1955, the Dublin Progress newspaper ran on their front page, an old photograph of Chester Hogan, Ben’s father, working at the town’s soft-drinks plant. It had been taken at the turn of the 20th century when Chester was about 20 years old.

Imagine it, pride of place in a town that had taken its name from the home of Guinness, being accorded to the production of soda-pop! We’re told that Chester and two other members of the production staff, rinsed out the empties with cold water, refilled them using hoses through which flowed a mixture of pure cane sugar, carbonated water and Dr Pepper syrup and stuck in the corks that went ‘pop’when extracted.

This and later activities at Muirfield Village, served to illustrate that the diversity of Dublin USA, simply knew no bounds.

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09/10/2018 2:32 p.m.

A Golfers paradise

By Des Duggan

No one would argue that we in Ireland are lucky to have some of the best golf courses in the world and whether it’s a links course or a parkland course they are all within short driving distances from any of our towns and villages.

I say we are even luckier to have some of the best golfing developments in the world within a two and a half hour flight from any of our airports.

Low season Golf breaks is big business and the La Manga resort would be up there with the very best on offer . Where one can leave the grey clouds behind and play low season golf in warm conditions and in sunshine throughout the winter months.

The La Manga Resort has it all to offer, from the caddy masters to the buggies, starters and course attendants all in their La Manga attire and busy running around only eager to help guests and golfers to have a smooth memorable experience.

La Manga Club is located in a magnificent natural environment next to Calblanque

National Park and the Mediterranean Sea, with a mild year-round climate and enjoying exceptional security and privacy, the exclusive resort of La Manga Club (Los Belones, Cartagena, Murcia) offers luxury, leisure and sport in the same place, and is set just 20 minutes from Murcia airport and an hour away from Alicante.

It was Founded in 1972, and the resort now covers an area of 566 hectares containing accommodation, professional sports facilities, relaxation zones, firstclass redevelopment and a private community of 2,300 residents, in a region which boasts more than 350 days’ of sun and is surrounded by natural parks and untouched beaches.

La Manga Club’s extensive facilities include: • A five-star hotel: Hotel Príncipe Felipe 5* • Tourist apartments: Las Lomas Village 4* • Luxury villas • Three top quality 18-hole golf courses • A 28-court tennis centre • Football pitches • 2,000m2 Wellness Centre

120 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

There is also the resort’s famous La Cala beach and restaurant, overlooking the Mediterranean - with more than 15 bars and restaurants to choose from …

Additionally, there is the opportunity to rent a property, purchase a plot of land or buy any of the villas already available that have been built on the complex, and benefit from the services and commodities that a five-star hotel has to offer, such as the sports facilities on the resort.

With the variety of activities and facilities available, La Manga Club has firmly established itself as one of the best sports and leisure destination resorts in Europe, and has been the proud recipient of a host of prestigious international awards and accolades over the last four decades.

Situated in Murcia, south-east Spain, La Manga Club’s extensive sports and leisure facilities include three 18-hole golf courses, a 28-court tennis centre, a 2,000sqm Wellness Centre and more than 15 bars and restaurants.

La Manga is considered to be Europe’s top sports and leisure family destination is and do offer great value on holidays taken at the five-star resort which I would highly recommend to our golfing readers.

Getting there: Fly with Air Lingus or Ryan air to either Alicante or Murcia to get to La Manga and when in La Manga Its easy to get around as the development offer all guests a FREE Taxi service from any of the restaurants

and bars by simply asking the staff to radio in the FREE taxi without delays.

Our Special thanks go to Pete Simms of The Azalea Group PR agency in the UK for assisting us on our visit and to Idoia Carrillo of La Manga Club for arranging our stay.

For more information on La Manga Club & to book, go to www.lamangaclub.com

Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 121

It seems like a good idea at the time. A nice fella arrives at your door and offers to fix your gutter for “a fiver”. While he’s up on his ladder he discovers that your roof needs extensive repair. He insists that it needs to be repaired immediately or you face leaks and potentially even a collapse. Before you know it you’ve given him €800 cash to buy materials and carry out the repairs. The only trouble is, he took your money and never returned.

and the cost. If the tradesperson says that he has completed work for a neighbour, check with your neighbour to see if they were satisfied with the work. Take your time and don’t feel pressured into making a quick decision.

It can be very tempting to hire a trades person who offers services straight away often at what appears to be a very cheap rate, but it comes with a risk.

What to do if you fall victim to a scam If you are scammed, do not be too ashamed or embarrassed to report it to the Gardaí. Bogus traders can be very convincing—you will not be the first person to fall for their scam and unfortunately probably not the last.

Bogus Callers, Rogue Traders and Scammers Scams take many forms but usually involve a cash payment to a door-to-door trades person and subsequently little or no work being completed. Sometimes scammers wait until after the work is complete and then use intimidation and threats to extract payment that is in excess of what was agreed. They may even offer you a lift to the bank to get more money. Other times the scammers will use the work being completed as an excuse to get inside your house to check for valuables then return to steal them at a later date.

The Real Deal If all door-to-door trades people were bogus then they would be easy to spot but there are a lot of roofers, guttering experts, painters and others who are honest professionals. You can check that a company or individual are credible by asking for a brochure or other documentation that has a contact number, address and a VAT registration number. Once you are happy that they are credible, always ask for a detailed written quote for the work that is to be completed 122 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

Above all else, trust your instincts. If your gut is telling you that something isn’t right, it probably isn’t.

Talk to someone about it. Don’t underestimate or downplay the impact it has had on you.

If you have been the victim of a scam, or any other crime, you can ring the Crime Victims Helpline for support and information. The Crime Victims Helpline 116 006 is a free and confidential service that provides emotional support and information to victims of crime.

Our hours are: Monday, Wednesday and Friday Tuesday and Thursday Saturday and Bank Holidays Sunday

10.00 to 17.00 10.00 to 17.00 14.00 to 16.00 Closed

Further information can also be found on our website at www.crimevictimshelpline.ie

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I’m 5ft 7in, attractive, single with no children. My Interests include walking, swimming, weekends away, yoga, meditation and social dancing.

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ARE YOU THAT ‘SPECIAL LADY’?

You replied to my advert B1 in the last issue of Senior Times but you did not leave your contact details. Look forward to hearing from you!

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WLTM lady with similar interests.

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Likes travel, fishing, gardening, current affairs, politics and sports.

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REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B13 ATTRACTIVE RETIRED CO LIMERICK WOMAN, 60s, WLTM cheerful, friendly, commonsense male companion to share leisurely walking, holidays, laughter etc. NS. Based on Kerry border.

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Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 123

DUBLIN MALE, 69, loves a non-hurried pace of life, WLTM a loving, caring female to share and enjoy retirement years. Looking for my soul mate and soul mates don’t have to live together. Ideally age range 65-75.

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Preferable age range 50s to 60s. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A4 WEST MEATH BASED ENGLISHMAN, 79, WEST widower, NS, SD. Interests include driving, reading, pets, sport, all types of music.

Keen sense of humour, WLTM a lady of similar age and interests for friendship and companionship. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A5 ACTIVE, RETIRED CO LIMERICK WOMAN, CHEERFUL and chatty seeks friendly male companion to share days out, holidays and enjoy life.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A6 SOUTH DUBLIN PROFESSIONAL GENT, late 60s, NS, 5ft 11in, medium build, kind, considerate, private, good appearance, good manners and respectful, easy going. Interests include the arts, cinema, music, reading. Would like to invite into my life a special, kind, thoughtful, funny and true, romantic, affectionate mature woman who is available for trips and short breaks to explore places of interest in our beautiful country.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A7 MUNSTER LADY, QUIET, HONEST, kind, sincere, semi-retired. WLTM single, caring, trustworthy gentleman. Ideally GSOH, modest drinker with a healthy lifestyle to share happy times and, initially, friendship. Age range 60-65.

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NORTH DUBLIN MAN, 61, SINGLE, romantic, broadminded, discreet. WLTM lady 59-62 age group from Dublin of from up to two hours away. NS, ND. Love weekends away, eating out, cinema, walking, Elvis, C&W, folk, brass bands. Want to meet me?

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REPLY TO BOX NUMBER D2

124 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

RETIRED PROFESSIONAL MUNSTER LADY, 60s, attractive widow, outgoing, caring and sincere person with GSOH. NS, enjoys various interests, including sport, swimming, walking, travel, music and theatre. WLTM sincere, educated gentleman with GSOH and similar interests for friendship/companionship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER D3 RETIRED MALE PUBLIC SERVANT, 60s, living in North Midlands, interested in public affairs, politics, outdoor activities and sport and travel, WLTM interesting female for friendship and travel.

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Favour modern dance, not 123, 123. Favourite dance music 1920s Lindy Hop, NYC and Cuban Salsa.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER D5 TO PLACE AN ADVERTISEMENT

If you are interested in meeting someone of the opposite or same sex, send your advertisement, with four stamps (which is the average reply rate) enclosed in the envelope, to: Meeting Place, Senior Times, Unit 1, 15 Oxford Lane, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.

Or email: john@slp.ie IMPORTANT Ensure you give your approximate age and the area you live, noting your interests. The advertisement should not be more than 60 words.

If you are replying to the advertisement via Senior Time’s email, ensure you include your postal address for those not on the Net. (Only Senior Times will have these details). Deadline for receipt of advertisements for the next issue is 30th November 2018.

TO REPLY TO AN ADVERTISEMENT Each reply to an advertisement should be enclosed in a plain, stamped envelope, with the box number marked in pencil so that it can be erased before being forwarded to the advertiser. Send these envelopes in a covering envelope to the address , above, so that we can forward them to the advertiser. There is no limit to the amount of advertisements to which you can reply, provided each one is contained in a plain, stamped envelope. Ensure you give your approximate age and the area you live.

For those submitting their advertisements by email ensure that you also supply Senior Times with your postal address so that we can post replies from those who have replied by post. (Only Senior Times will have your postal address).

Why not take out a gift subscription to Ireland’s publication for people who don’t act their age?

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Issue 87

May/June

2017

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ople zine for pe The maga t their age ac who don’t

Proud to ? be grey out a Rooting a dilemm

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dawn Pistols at duelling A history of

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sid ular the spectac Exploring scape volcanic land

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Three copies of A Soldier's Wife to be won.

An historical family saga of love, loss, loyalty and resilience, which examines the effects of war on an ordinary family.

Ellen marries James, a sergeant in the Connaught Rangers and they travel to India. A tragedy occurs on the journey which almost destroys their idyll. They lead a glamorous, indolent life in India for seven years. They return in 1912 to a Dublin that is rife with civil and political unrest. James volunteers for WW1, leaving Ellen to bring up three children alone in a city that is becoming increasingly hostile.

Senior Times, in association with the publisher, Poolbeg Press is offering three copies of A Soldiers  Wife by Marion Reynolds as prizes in this issue’s crossword competition.

Name: ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Address: ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Phone: ................................................................................................................................................................................................

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126 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

Send your entries to: Crossword Competition, Senior Times, Unit 1, 15 Oxford Lane, Ranelagh, Dublin 6. The first three correct entries drawn are the winners.

Deadline for receipt of entries is 25th November.

Crossword Crossword Number 96 by Zoë Devlin

ACROSS

DOWN

1 4 7 10 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 27 28 30 33 35 37 41 42 43 45 48 49 50 51 52 54 57 59 60 61 62 63 65 67 69 73 74 76 81 82 84 85 89 90 91 92 93 94 95

1 2 3 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 24 25 26 29 31 32 34 36 38 39 40 41 44 46 47 53 55 56 57 58 59 64 66 68 70 71 72 75 77 78 79 80 83 86 87 88

Can you find a Sand Martin in this county? (6) He was Greek and he could dance! (5) Southern capital in a bottle? (4) It’s a long way to this county! (9) Variety of small mandarin orange (9) Financial officer of club or association (9) Aromatic herb in a no go era? (7) Is this burden on us? (4) Type of window for Sir Roger? (8) Expression, word or phrase (6) Destiny (4) Disparity, unevenness .. for a quiet inlay? (10) Sticky syrup (7) This quiet state is described as golden (7) Young upwardly mobile professional (6) Carries news .. winged or otherwise (9) Byebye .. adieu (8) Vertical structure dividing a room or country (9) Browning of skin ..for an ant! (3) Underground system (6) Do nomads eat this type of plum? (6) Fiery .. torrid (3) Swing used by circus acrobats (7) Point of view.. for an angel? (5) Sam ain’t short of this staying power (7) Opening to the nasal cavity (7) Title-holder or mashed potato dish (5) Glossy coating or varnish (7) Tin container or half a French dance? (3) Programmes that are broadcast again (6) Small (6) Large vase or pot (3) Overwhelming electoral victory (9) Birth county of Patrick Kavanagh (8) Elope then .. but ring or call (9) Ploy or plan of action (6) Mount ___ , mountain on the Dingle peninsula (7) Connacht’s smallest county (7) Person who gives financial help (10) Biblical boat builder (4) Annoy this burrowing mammal with strong claws (6) Able to bend easily (8) Western county or type of dressing? (4) First letter of a word (7) Region in S.America or a GAA point? (9) No cart-horse for this musical group (9) Plant which doesn’t shed leaves in winter (9) Author of ‘Brooklyn’, ___ Tóibín (4) Can you spy an attractive garden flower? (5) French film star and sex symbol AKA BB (6)

Can a hairy tout have this power or right? (9) Not sure if this is the shaven crown of a monk (7) Notion or thought (4) Good use for broken eggs (8) Mixture for coating fish (6) Fertile tract in a desert (5) Type of terrier from Munster? (5,4) Monarch’s chair of state (6) Secret scheme (4) Paradise or Shangri-la (4) Slide of snow and ice (9) Gilbert & Sullivan’s opera ‘___ of the Guard’ (6) Eventually .. at last (7) Superior in quality (6) I tug lips for this boxer! (8) Greedy king with golden touch (5) Brown sugar for a dreamer (8) In Asia men have this memory loss (7) Plant with stinging hairs (6) Can Ma lure Glen to this Co Wicklow valley? (10) He’s the one who’s buying (9) Sounds like the playwright could render a song? (5) Firearms fired with one hand (7) Region around the south pole (9) Cautiously and prudently (9) It reads the same backward or forward (10) Wet spongy ground (3) Person such as geologist or biologist (9) Is it a strain to be wife of a Tsar? (7) Failing to fulfill a promise (8) Play a role in a drama (3) Period of time happening now (7) Leinster’s ‘Wee County’ (5) Relating to teeth or dogs? (6) Robinson Crusoe was one .. (8) Part of a hog or painter, Francis ___ (5) Conform to a norm or standard (9) Possessing drive and vigour (9) Large dark long-necked seabird (9) Fraught with danger (8) Reproduction or copy (7) Very young child (6) Browned or cooked by heat (7) Lure or tempt (6) Moisten or wet (6) Coastal state in southwestern India (6) Majestic, imperial .. like lager? (5) Male sovereign (4) Take flight .. run away (4) Greek cheese made from goat and sheep milk (4) Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie 127

Crafts

An open and closed case Connie McEvoy shows you how to make a festive spectacle case Temporary misplacement of my specs seems to be a regular rather annoying occurrence these days as searching for and finding then seems to take longer with the passing of the years.

Specsavers furnished me with a chain that had a loop at each end and was capable of being adjusted to accommodate all sizes of specs and could be worn as a necklace, this accessory was ideal and in use every day until I managed to get it caught on a door handle and nearly choked myself.

This autumn I have decided that that sort of annoyance could be done without coming up to the festive season so I have designed and knitted myself a spectacle case that is seasonal and fairly noticeable even at a distance!!

Requirements: 1 X 50g ball each of Paton’s Diploma Gold DK wool rich tumble dry yarn, Red 6139 lot 20 & White 6142 lot 42, also some green for leaves (a remnant about 20 wraps around 4 fingers ) would suffice and a pair of size 3mm knitting needles and a tapestry needle. Divide the red yarn into 2 balls and take about 50 wraps off one of these for the poinsettia motif that is worked in intarsia fashion.

Also required: some moss green and red seed beads, a beading needle a scissors and matching green and red number 40 machine cotton thread, 9cms of 1mm wide round elastic and enough red ribbon 5mms wide with a merry Christmas gold print to make a wee bow-that which was used in this project came off a chocolate box.

Abbreviations: K-knit, P-purl, St(s) - stitch (stitches)

Front of spectacle case

Using red yarn-begin by casting on 27 stitches and K 3 rows.

1st row of pattern-K 3 stitches red, join in white yarn (leave & hold a tail 4cms) that can be woven into back of work with a tapestry needle later, K 21sts, join 2nd ball of red and K3 stitches.

2nd row K3 red entwine red and white yarn, P21 white, entwine red and white yarn, K3 red, continue to entwine red and white yarn at start and end of every row so as to avoid holes in work.

3rd row K3 red, K21 white, K3 red.

4th row K3 red, P21 white, K3 red. Weave loose yarn tails into back of work at this stage using the tapestry needle in order to avoid confusion when working the 5th row as the 3rd (small ball) of red + the small ball of green will need to be joined in as this row is being worked (intarsia method entwining yarns where necessary) 5th row K3 red, K6 white, join and K3 green, K2 white, K1 green, K2 white, join in 3rd ball of red, K1 red, K6 white, K3 red.

6th row K3 red, P3 white, join in 2nd small ball and P3 green, P2 red, P2 green, P1 white, P3 green, P7 white, K3 red.

7th row K3 red, K8 white, K2 green, K1 white, K2 green, K2 red, K2 green, K4 white, K3 red.

8th row K3 red,P3 white, P3 red, P2 white, P4 red, P9 white, K3 red.

9th row K3 red, K11 white, K2 red, K2 white, K3 red, K4 white, K3 red.

10th row K3 red, P3 white, P4 green, P1 red, P2 green, P11 white, K3 red.

11th row K3 red, K11 white, K2 green, k2 red, K2 green, K4 white, K3 red.

12th row K3 red, P3 white, P2 green, P2 white, P1 red, P1 white, P2 green, P10 white, K3 red.

13th row K3 red, K16 white, K3 green, K2 white, K3 red.

14th row K3 red, P2 white, P2 green, P17 white, K3 red.

15th row K3 red, K18 white, K1 green, K2 white, K3 red, break off small balls of green yarn and weave into back of work in order to secure.

16th row K3 red, P21 white, K3 red.

17th row K3 red, K21 white, K3 red.

Continue to work these 2 rows up to and including the 36th row .

37th row K3 red, K3 white, join in and K1 green, K17 white, K3 red.

38th row K3 red, P16 white, P2 green, P3 white, K3 red.

39th row K3 red, K3 white, K3 green, K3 white, K2 green, K10 white, K3 red.

40th row K3 red, P 11 white, P3 green, P1 white, P2 green, P4 white, K3 red.

41st row K3 red, K6 white, K4 green, K11 white, K 3 red.

42nd row K3 red, P21 white, K3 red.

43rd row, K3 red, K21 white, K3 red.

44th row, K3 red, P21 white, K3 red.

K 3 rows red and cast off.

Cut off red, green and white yarn and work each colour into back of work in order to secure.

Back of spectacle case Using red yarn cast on 27 stitches and k 3 rows.

1st row of pattern-k3 sts red, join in white yarn K21 sts white, join in 2nd ball of red yarn and K 3 sts red.

2nd row K3 red, P21 white, K3 red.

Continue thus until the 44th row has been completed, break of white yarn.

Knit 3 rows red and cast off. Work all loose ends securely into back of project.

Press both back and front sections on a folded soft towel under a damp cloth using an iron that is fixed at a low setting.

Cut about 30cms of each thread (red/green), fold in half an thread both cut ends through the eye of the beading needle, push the needle from back to front

128 Senior Times l November - December 2018 l www.seniortimes.ie

of work while keeping a finger on the loop at back, make a neat tiny stitch at front before taking the needle to back of work and through the loop in order to have a secure and neat anchor for the beads.

Take the needle to the front again and load about 7 beads onto it, twist into a figure of 8 as red beads are fixed in place on the surface before taking it to the back of work again where arrangement of beads can be secured with a backstitch and a knot for the holly motif.

Repeat the same procedure twice using the moss green seed beads in the poinsettia motif.

To assemble the spectacle case-lay the front section on top of the back section wrong sides facing and pin in place, thread the tapestry needle with white yarn and stitch in place with neat running stitches worked in the 1st white knitted stitch along the bottom and sides of the case.

Fold in half and tie a neat knot at each end of the round elastic, fit and secure 1 knot in each of the finished side seams in the last white knitted row (before the last 3 rows of red edging) at top of case using white yarn, continue to secure the rest of the elastic along the top back & front on the inside using overcast stitches in order to encase the elastic securely.

Make a little bow from the red ribbon and stitch in place just above the holly motif or as desired.

A Senior Citizen Now that I’m that wee bit older.

Days and nights seem somewhat colder.

Never mind I’ll do some knittingMight as well while I am sitting.

All set now with yarn and needles.

Where’s that counting wheedle-deedle?

Was sure I left it with the restRight beside the blanket chest.

I swear it’s no-where to be seenCan’t think where-else it may have been.

What harm won’t raise my hypertensionNow that I receive the Pension.

At times like this we’re nervous wrecks.

I’ll carry on- Now where’s me specs?

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